ABSTRACT

The roofs of the Tsala tents are nearly flat, and the middle has an opening six inches wide along its whole length. An excavation from twelve to twenty-four inches deep is made in the soil, and a rude wall of stones, about one foot high, is built round it, over which the tent cloth, made in narrow widths of yak’s or goat’s hair, is extended by ropes led over forked sticks. The largest tent was twenty feet by fifteen, but the majority measured only fourteen feet by eight and ten feet. In addition to the fifty dwelling tents there was one considerably larger, in which the people store their wool and goat’s hair till the time arrives for taking them to market. The tents were ready pitched in a grassy hollow by the river; horses, cows, and goats were grazing near them, and a number of men were preparing food.