43 BHOTIA MEHALS 



The Bliotias of the other Ghats also use boots, of plain woollen stuff, 

 when travelling over snow. In the Mdna, Niti and Juwdr Ghats, the 

 females adopted the dress worn by the same sex, and corresponding 

 classes in the northern pargannas. The Dharma and Byanse women 

 retain a Tartar dress. This consists of a web of cloth folded round the 

 body, and descending from the waist to the ancles in the form of a 

 petticoat, at the waist it is secured by a girdle, commonly of leather : 

 above this is a shift without sleeves, reaching below the knee, while 

 above all is a narrow hood fixed on the top of the head and covering all 

 but the face, shewing a tail descending down the back nearly to the 

 heels ; a pair of boots, similar to those of the men, completes the equip- 

 ment. The above articles of dress are all made from woollen stuff dyed 

 either red or dark blue, having narrow white stripes. The ornaments of 

 these ladies baffle description and bear no resemblauce to any thing worn 

 elsewhere : the most prominent are the ear-rings, commonly of pewter, 

 which in size and shape, may be compared to a massive house door key. 

 Strings of large pieces of coarse amber are worn round the neck in addi- 

 tion to two or three indescribable necklaces. The Bliotias of both sexes, 

 and of all classes in every Ghat, carry suspended from the waistband by 

 small chains or thongs of leather, a variety of instruments of daily use, 

 such as knife, spoon, scissars, awl, packing needle, tweezers, steel flint, 

 tobacco, paunch, &c. The Bhotias consume large quantities of food, 

 particularly of animal, of which a constant supply is afforded to them in 

 the carcases of their sheep and goats which die from fatigue or disease. 

 The Mdna, Niti and Juwdr Bhotias scrupulously abstain from the use of 

 beef of every description ; by the Dharma and Byanse Bhotias the Chownr 

 Gae is eaten, and the common kine would probably not be spared by them, 

 but for the general prohibition against the slaughter of that animal which 

 is in force in this province. The Bhotias are much addicted to the use of 

 spirituous liquors, in extenuation of which practice they plead necessity 



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