Peking to Lhasa : vol.1 / Page 272 (Color Image)

0272	Peking to Lhasa : vol.1

196 PEKING TO LHASA

become so numerous that they are rising against

their chiefs.

A horn is worn by the men of both Lolos and

Miao. The origin of this custom is unknown.

Nor is it known whether there is any connection

between the two races. The clothes of the Miao

women are of white hemp. They wear quilted

petticoats and sometimes coloured puttees. Both

men and women wear the same short, finely

embroidered cloak, sometimes thrown loose, some-

times sewn on to the dress. They either wear

sandals or go bare-footed. The unmarried girls

wear their hair plaited and coiled round the top

of the head.

The Miaos are a gentle race, and after years of

being ground down are at first suspicious, but once

they have confidence in a stranger they are bright

and smiling. They are very poor, and even in a

good year only just make both ends meet. They

live chiefly on maize, but are fond of oatmeal.

The Mission started growing potatoes with great

success.

They sing well, the hymns being adopted from

well-known tunes. Pereira heard them singing a

Miao hymn to the tune of " Auld Lang Syne ".

Mr. Pollard's grave overlooks the beautiful field

of his labours.

Pereira visited a Lolo village on his way back

to Chao-t'ung Hsien on April 2. The people

dressed like the Chinese. The men were if any-

thing rather shorter than the Chinese and had

the hooked Tibetan nose. The women were very

shy. These were the subjugated and not the

independent Lolos.

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