is, that over the robe, they add a short many-coloured
tunic, and that they divide their hair into two braids, one hanging down
each shoulder. The women of the humbler classes wear a small yellow cap,
like the cap of liberty that was in fashion in France at the time of our
first republic. The head decoration of the ladies is a graceful crown
composed of pearls. The Thibetian women submit, in their toilet, to a
custom, or rather rule, doubtless quite unique, and altogether incredible
to those who have not actually witnessed its operation: before going out
of doors, they always rub their faces over with a sort of black,
glutinous varnish, not unlike currant jelly; and the object being to
render themselves as ugly and hideous as possible, they daub this
disgusting composition over every feature, in such a manner as no longer
to resemble human creatures. The origin of this monstrous practice was
thus related to us: Nearly 200 years ago, the Nomekhan, a Lama king, who
ruled over Hither Thibet, was a man of rigid and austere manners. At
that period, the Thibetian women had no greater fancy for making
themselves ugly than other women; on the contrary, they were perfectly
mad after all sorts of luxury and finery, whence arose fearful disorders,
and immorality that knew no bounds. The contagion, by degrees, seized
upon the holy family of the Lamas; the Buddhist monasteries relaxed their
ancient and severe discipline, and were a prey to evils which menaced
them with complete and rapid dissolution. In order to stay the progress
of a libertinism which had become almost general, the Nomekhan published
an edict, prohibiting women from appearing in public otherwise than with
their faces bedaubed, in the manner we have described. Lofty, moral, and
religious considerations were adduced in support of this strange law, and
the refractory were menaced with the severest penalties, and above all,
with the wrath of Buddha. There needed, assuredly, more than ordinary
courage to publish such an edict as this; but the most extraordinary
circumstance of all is, that the women were perfectly resigned and
obedient. Tradition has handed down not the least hint of any
insurrection, or the slightest disturbance even, on the subject, and
conformably with the law, the women have blackened themselves furiously
and uglified themselves fearfully, down to the present time. In fact,
the thing has now come to be considered a point of dogma, an articl