246 E. Vansittart— Tribes , Clans , and Castes of Nepal. [No. 4, 
The Gurkha shoe is square-toed, fits well up over the instep, passes 
just under the ankle, and then round and pretty high up above the 
heel It is made of rough-looking but good brown leather, and all sew¬ 
ing in it is done with strips of raw hide. It is an excellent, durable 
shoe, is not affected by water in the same way that an ordinary native 
shoe of India is, and it is much less liable to come off in boggy ground. 
When the sun is very hot, Gurkhas will often unwind their waist- 
belt and tie the same over their heads in the shape of a pagrl, taking it 
off again in the afternoon, when it begins to cool down again. 
The upper classes of Nepal and most of the residents of Kathmandu 
wear the following:— 
The above-mentioned national cap, or one much like it. 
A kind of double-breasted frock-coat, called caubandl , fitting tight 
everywhere, especially over the arms, fastened inside and outside by 
means of eight pieces of coloured tape, four inside and four outside. The 
four outside pieces of tape when tied show two on the left breast and 
high up, and the other two on the left side about level with the waist. 
A white or coloured waist-cloth or pagrl, with the invariable kukri, 
a pair of pyjamas very loose down to just below the knee, and from 
thence fitting the leg down to the ankle, and a pair of the national 
shoes. 
Under the coat is worn a shirt, of which three or four inches are in¬ 
variably allowed to show. They never tuck their shirts inside their 
pyjamas. 
The frock-coat and pyjamas above mentioned are made of a double 
layer of a thin shiny cotton cloth. Between the two layers a padding of 
cotton wool is placed, and these secured by parallel lines of sewing 
which run close to each other. To make this still more secure, diagonal 
lines of sewing are also resorted to. This makes a very comfortable 
and warm, but light, suit. 
Amusements and sports. —Gurkhas delight in all manly sports,— 
shooting, fishing, etc.,—and are mostly keen sportsmen and possess great 
skill with gun and rod. They amuse themselves in their leisure hours 
either in this way in the field, or in putting the shot, playing quoits or 
foot-ball, and they are always eager to join in any game with Europeans. 
General Sir Charles Reid, K. c. b., says: 
“ All Gurkhas are keen sportsmen and are never so happy as when they are on a 
tiger’s track. A man I lost at Delhi, had killed twenty-two on foot; they never 
waste a shot; they call ammunition ‘ Khazana,’ ‘ treasure.’ 
They are good gardeners, but very improvident, as they never will 
save up seed for the next season’s sowing. They are very fond of 
flowers, and will often go a long distance to procure some. They often 
