Chapter XI

MONGOLS--PHYSICAL AND MENTAL CHARACTERISTICS.

Physical characteristics--Meanness--Indolence--Failure in
agriculture--Hospitality--Its origin--Pilfering--Honesty--
Drunkenness--Smoking--Ir'chi or Kumiss--Morality--Of
lamas--Women fond of ornaments--Decency of dress--
Physique--Low muscular energy--A wrestling match--Bad
legs--Bow-legged--Its causes--Complexions--Eyes--Absence
of beard--Comparison with Chinese and Japanese--Effect
of habits on physical development--Animal instincts in
nomads--Supply the place of artificial appliances--
Permanence of types of character--Uniformity in primitive
peoples--Causes that influence colour of skin--Mongol
powers of endurance--Low mental capacity--Its causes--
Superstition produced by their habits--Predisposed to
spiritual thraldom--The lamas and their practices--
Prayers--Knaveries of lamas--Vagabond lamas--The spread
of Bhuddism--Superior to Shamanism--Shaman rites--Political
result of Bhuddism--The Mongol kings--Serfs 185