1857.] Kohdn and other places in Central Asia. 265 



the tea is chiefly brought, it occupies two months and half with a 

 Karawan ; and to reach Janan, where the China-ware is manufac- 

 tured, it takes another three months. Beyond the last mentioned 

 place is the ocean. 



The Chinese are much given to pleasure, and once a year, in the 

 first month, they hold a grand festival which lasts for ten days, 

 during which time they give themselves up to all sorts of pleasure. 

 The festival is called Chaghan. 



Cottrell in his " Recollections of Siberia," refers to this style of 

 commencing the new year in the following terms : " They (the 

 Chinese merchants at Mai-ma-chin, the small hamlet where they 

 and the Russians meet to trade, and in which merchants are allowed 

 to reside) have, however, learned from their Russian neighbours to 

 appreciate the merits of champaigne, which is drunk in torrents in 

 the white month. This white month is the beginning of the Chinese 

 year. # * * * The scene of carousing and gaiety 

 during this month is described as most amusing, and would be 

 doubtless the best opportunity of seeing the Chinese under the 

 most favourable colours." 



The dress of the men of Chinese Tartary is of various colours, 

 one suit over the other ; and their caps they ornament with a tassel 

 like the girls of Orgunge, to which according to their means, they 

 attach jewels. Their shoes are of silk with soles of cotton. The 

 women dress much in the same style as those of Kashmir, and their 

 head-dress consists of a cap or turban, which they ornament with 

 flowers made of coloured silks. All the people use chairs, in fact 

 they cannot sit comfortably otherwise. 



They are of two tribes, the Akh Khattai, and Karah Kattai, 

 which signifies in the Turk! language, the White and the Black 

 Chinese. The former shave all round the head, but leave a tuft in 

 the centre, the hair of which when sufficiently long they twist and 

 allow to hang down like a cow's tail. They also shave off the beard 

 but retain the moustache. The latter, on the contrary never shave. 



There are two routes from Kashmir to Yarkaud aud Kokau. The 

 most direct one is by way of Iskardoh and along the banks of the 

 Shighun river, and over the Mustak range of mountains by the 

 Hanzi pass. The other, a more round about road, is by way of 



