Page:From Kulja, across the Tian Shan to Lob-Nor (1879).djvu/86

Rh ceiling. The sides are covered with reeds fastened in some way together, and the ceiling is also of the same material, a square hole being left for the escape of smoke. In the centre of this apartment stands the fireplace; along the walls, on mats of felt or reed, the master and his family sleep, separate quarters being in some cases reserved for the women. On shelves fastened to the walls, are disposed the domestic utensils, &c. Close beside the habitation is an enclosure also of reeds for the cattle. Ten or more of such houses compose the village, which is not always stationary, for in winter they live wherever food for cattle and fuel are most abundant, whilst in summer they are dispersed over the lake for the purpose of fishing. But their chief motive in removing their villages to new sites is to avoid sickness; small-pox is especially dreaded, for it almost invariably terminates fatally. Any one falling ill of this complaint is abandoned to his fate; a little food is left by the side of the sick man, and the whole village decamps to another place, without further thought for their deserted brother. If he recover, which seldom happens, he returns to his relatives; in the contrary event, nobody troubles himself to bury him. Such of the graves as we saw were marked with long poles, decorated with coloured rags, deers' horns, wild yak tails, &c.