The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1880-05-06
Something About the Mongols.

I The following is condensed from /.
sketch in the New York S4n of the ex
plorations of Colonel Prejevalsky, the
| famous Russian traveller, whose deatf
while he was attempting topenetrate tt
the capital of Thibet has been recently
announced:
1t appears that the tribes of the pure
Mongol type are encountered in the
Desert of Cobb, or in the Immediately
contiguous zone. At the first glance
they recall the Chinese, owing to the
long queue which they wear in common
with that people. As to the Mongol
women, they preserve their locks in.
tact, and form of them two braids,
which are worn over the bosom or down
The back, according as they are virgins
or married women. The richer ladies
adorn the forehead with silver spangles
or bits of coral. which those of humber
condition replace with copper disks OF
false pearls. Large silver earrings,
finger rings, and bracelets complete the
list OF feminine ornaments. The ordi-
nary garment of the men consists of a
long blue cotton gown, not unlike our
dressing gowns; their feet are protect
ed by Chinese boots, and their head is
covered with small fiat hat turned ND
at the brims, for which in winter they
substitute a fur bonnet. The use of
shirts and Undertaking of any kind is
unknown to them, but in the cold sea-
son they put on thick breeches of fur.
In the summer those who have preten-
sions to elegance have their gowns
made of Chinese silk, but in all cases
their one garment is girt around the
waist by a belt, to which pipe and to-
bacco pouch are always suspended. I'm
der his gown. and next to his bare skin,
the Mongol keeps his snuff box, to Of
fer pinch of snuff to a friend, m &C.
qualntance, or a-stranger, constituting
an important feature of nomad etiquette.
AS rule the Mongol cares as little
about the quality as the cleanliness of
his garments, and concentrates all his
vanity on the harness of his horse.
whose saddle is often studded with gold
nails or plated with silver. The cloth
ing of the women differs in respect of
cut, and they wear their loose gown I'M
der a sleeveless bodice.
What first struck the attention of
Prejevalsky in the outward appearance
OF the MOngOl was his extreme unclean-
illness. Not only is, the use of the bath
unknown to him, but he exhibits pro-
found aversion to the simplest ablu-
tons. He has literally horror of
water, and regards the faintest tincture
OF humidity as mortal enemy. The
gluttony of the nomads, according to
Colonel Prejevalsky, is such as we find
ascribed to Homer's heroes or to Scan
dinavian vikings on their return from a
marauding expedition. On certain oc-
casions of solemn festival, when the
MongOls abandon themselves to the de-
lights of the table, it often happens
that one man will bolt, at a single sit
ting. ten or twelve pounds of mutton.
The ordinary days ration of the men
who accompany the caravans is a quar-
ter OF mutton per head; this they call
living economically, and those who
push their demands no further pass for
models of frugality. Endowed by ma
ture and by the climate with vigorous
constitution, and accustomed from
childhood to a rude life in the open air.
the Monaghan never knows what ill
health means. Seated on his camel, or
bestriding his horse, without thought
OF dismounting for fifty miles, he ad-
yances, calm and unconcerned, toward
the goal of his journey, neither diff
culties nor privations, nor the sand
loaded winds, cutting his face like a
whip-lash, nor even the freezing cold,
availing to overcome him. 1t seems as
II these men must really be made of
iron to resist such fatigue, prolonged
day after day for months; for we must
remember that the distance traversed
by the tea caravans, including the re-
turn trip, is not less than six thousand
miles. Unluckily these men, SO robust
In the saddle, seem entirely unable to
do any other work. If they are CON-
PEELED to walk a mile they are discour-
aged and exhausted; short sojourn in
a malarial neighborhood is far more
mortal to them than to the effeminate
children of our cities, and should their
tea happen to give out for three or
tour days, you see them weeping,
wringing their hands. and declaring
accursed of God and man.
The lot of the Mongol woman is far
from enviable, the narrow sphere of
nomad existence being, for her, still
more restricted. Her sole distraction
rom household toll is found in needle
work, and it seems that her embroidery
IS remarkable for the taste and beauty
of its designs, the liveliness of its colors,
md the finish of its execution. While,
however, in domestic life the Moneol
woman is placed by law on footing of
nominal equality with her lord and
master, yet in social transactions the
nferiority of her condition is strikinely
'evealed. It is the husband who de-
tides whether it is time to emigrate,
md he chooses the new place of abode;
lie makes all contracts and payments;
here is no appeal from his will. This
allure of the Mongol women to exer-
Use any ascendancy is ascribed by our
raveler to their want of comeliness.
The national type, the mode of life,
md the traditional uncleanliness of the
dongol race, do not permit the feat
lres to acquire sOftness or regularity.
Here and there, however, in the tent of
ome Prince, you encounter fine face,
graceful and attractive woman; but,