THE MONGOLS OF TSAIDAM iioi 
breasts of even the younger women are anything but well- 
formed, and hang down loosely in a very unedifying 
fashion. Whether this undue exposure of the person 
tends to matrimonial fidelity I will not venture to affirm ; 
1 can only say that the Mongols themselves are so 
thoroughly accustomed to the practice, that to them it ^is 
perfectly natural. At any rate, they were not slow to 
tell me, that morality among'st them stood at a higher 
level than amongst the Mohammedans; for in their eyes 
GAVOS, OR CASES, FOR BURKHANS (SILVER AND COPPER) 
One-sixth of natural size 
the polygamy which Islam allows the Faithful is proof of 
a low moral standard. 
On the very first day of my stay amongst them Sonum, 
the chief of Yikeh-tsohan-gol, came to visit me, bringing 
as gifts of welcome milk, fermented mare’s milk (kumiss), 
and brandy made from the same. The kumiss brandy 
had a very disagreeable taste ; but must have been pretty 
strong, for Parpi Bai, after a somewhat incautious trial of 
it, was incapacitated for an entire day. The chief Sonum 
wore a fiery red mantle, and a Chinese skin cap, with 
button and long ribbons. 
The following day I returned his visit. The little 
