Page:Christianity in China, Tartary, and Thibet Volume I.djvu/224

212 212 CHEISTIANITY IN CHINA, ETC. for carpets, for coverings for the Yourtas or huts, and for cloaks to keep off the rain and snow. " The Tartar dress is in the form of a tunic, clasped always on the right side, though the Turks constantly fasten theirs on the left. The costume of the women does not differ greatly from that of the men, except that they wear a very lofty head-dress, of which Rubruk enters into a very minute detail, and adds, " When you see a company of these women on horseback, you might take them for men at arms with helmet and lance, espe- cially as they ride astride." " It is the business of the women to pitch the tents, and the rolling habitations above described ; to milk the cows, make the butter, prepare the skins, and sew them with thread which they make themselves from the hair of the camel or yak; and besides these employments, to make shoes, boots, and garments of all kinds. " They never wash their clothes, saying that God is angry if they do, and sends thunder while they are hanging up to dry. The sound of thunder terrifies them so much, that when they hear it they hide them- selves under their felt carpets, and remain buried thus till it is over. " The men occupy themselves in making bows and arrows, saddles, bridles, bits, and spurs. They take care of the camels, load and unload them for a journey, and in general look after the cattle, and tan the hides. " Cleanliness is in no more favour with them than with their ladies, and their mode of washing their faces and hands, is by filling their mouths with water, and squirt- ing it out over them. They never clean any of their domestic utensils, unless, indeed, when they are boiling meat ; they then sometimes dip into the pot the bowls