ABSTRACT
The dress of the Thibettans is unlike that of any other nation. Laymen do not shave their heads, but take care of their hair. Their hats, shaped like a mushroom, are of yellow woollen stuff and double; from the top hang long threads like hair over the crown. Indoors, or unless they go out on special business, or pay visits, they wear a cap resembling the crown of our hats, of the same yellow stuff, but with a lappet on either side and one behind, which they generally turn up, and only let down to shield their ears and neck when the weather is cold. Sometimes they wear the Tartar headgear, a cap of yellow damask surrounded by a band of fine fur about four fingers wide; on the top of the cap are a quantity of long red silk threads twisted into a rosace. The men, especially when in full dress, wear earrings of silver or gold ornamented with coral or turquoises. Their shirts are of wool, over which they wear a wide quilted jacket reaching below the knee, with tight sleeves rolled back over the wrist; and it is not buttoned according to European fashion, but overlaps, and is fastened by a girdle. Jackets and overcoats are made of fine wool woven in such manner as to be covered with tiny curls. Some men wear white cloth, others coloured, others again flowered or striped in various colours. The trousers are of good red cloth of medium thickness with a broad waistband round the stomach and sides, and they reach down to the heels. They are not sewn together on the sides like ours, but are wrapped round the calf and tied with a string below the knee. They have no stockings and their boots are like those worn by the monks and nuns. Some have Tartar boots in shape somewhat resembling ours and made of Muscovy leather. Nearly all wear round their neck a rosary made of a certain yellow wood which comes from China. From one shoulder a sash about two fingers wide crosses the chest, and from it hangs a square reliquary of red copper ornamented with sprigs of yellow brass in which they keep relics, gold or silver money, writing paper and sundries. From the girdle hang various objects, a small copper inkstand in a gilt leather case, a cylindrical steel box sometimes burnished to a violet colour and decorated with small silver leaves, in which they keep pens, not such as we use, but made of rather thick stems of bamboo. There is also a Thibettan knife, very sharp, in a sheath and a bag of gilt leather containing more writing paper, thread, needles, and such-like things, and another bag with a flint, steel and tinder.
