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KUNAITS.

among the more Hindooized Kunaits; but the system of polyandry is maintained nevertheless among a large section of this curious people. Kunaits profess to be a healthier people than others around them, and to be affected by fewer diseases; but their population does not increase, most likely owing to the practice above referred to, according to which, barren women are by no means uncommon. 

The dress of the Kunaits of the upper hills is a tunic of white blanket cloth, reaching to the knees, as shown in the centre figure of the Photograph, with a girdle, sometimes of goat's hair, about the waist, into which, on the left side, is stuck a hatchet, and the káchun, or flint and steel case, decorated with brass. The trowsers are of white blanket, tight at the ancle. The head dress is a felt cap, with the brim turned up, into which a peacock or pheasant's feather is jauntily stuck, by way of ornament. The dress of the women is much the same, and they wear a blanket of red and white stripe, which they wind twice round the body, throw one end over the shoulder, and knotting the other end, fasten it into the waist behind. The whole is secured by two very curious brooches. For head dress they wear either the felt cap, like the men, or a large piece of red wool. They are fond also of making the crown piece of their hats of red or other bright coloured cloth. They wear large heavy ear-rings of gold, silver, or even brass and pewter; but they plait their hair in long tails, and occasionally tie it about their heads, intermingled with tassels of coloured wool and flowers, in a very picturesque manner. Many of the women are fair and ruddy, and though short and thick, are good looking when young, especially those of the upper districts and classes. Those of the southern ranges are not so well favoured, and resemble low caste Hindoos. Cotton clothes are also worn by them, much after the fashion of the Hindoos of the plains. Among the upper Kunaits it is sometimes not a little difficult to distinguish men from women, especially when the felt hat is worn, and the person is enveloped in the usual blanket. Both men and women are constantly seen in the hill capital of Simla, and their picturesque forms many subjects for sketchers who abound there every season.