1855.] Notes on Eastern Thibet, 223 



Personal Habits, Customs and Ceremonies of Thibetans. 



The Thibetans of the higher class wear Chinese satins in the 

 warmer seasons, and the same lined with fur in the cold ; all others, 

 male and female, wear woollens in the warm, furs and sheep skins in 

 the cold weather, and never go about without boots. The men do 

 not go about armed. The common people never wash during the 

 cold season ; very sparingly at other times. The reason given for 

 this being that the skin of the face cracks and ulcerates from the cold, 

 if water is applied to it. The people of towns, who do not go much 

 outside the house, wash occasionally, but the universal prejudice is 

 strong against ablutions of the person, and it is equally extended to 

 their clothing which is worn in a filthy and greasy state. 



Soap is high priced and little used in Thibet ; it is not manufac- 

 tured there. The supply is from India, through the Cashmere 

 traders via Ladakh, and from Nepal. A small quantity also goes 

 from Bengal through Bootan and Sikim. There is a grass in the 

 country or a plant like grass, the root of which pounded with water, 

 makes a lather and is used for washing clothes. 



Travelling in the winter and indeed generally is performed on 

 yaks. The women ride astride on them like the men, and they are 

 so masculine and dressed so much alike that it is difficult to distin- 

 guish between them. 



A Thibetan village or town is never surrounded with filth, as in 

 India. To every house there is a privy, and the contents are care- 

 fully preserved for manure. In some situations, where the soil is 

 suitable, saltpetre is made from the earth about the privies, but 

 the regular supply of this article, which is used for making gun- 

 powder only, goes from India.* In towns the contents of the pri- 

 vies are sold annually, and those of people of wealth sell highest. 



It is well known that the dead are not burned or buried in Thibet, 

 but exposed on high places to be devoured by vultures. For this 

 business there is a class of men who make it their sole vocation. They 



* At the time of the Sikh General, Zotawur Singh's disastrous incursion from 

 Ladakh into Thibet as far as Gartope, 1842, thrre was a good deal of saltpetre 

 taken into Thibet through Sikim, also suiphui and lead bullets. 



2 G 



