On Yuan Chwang's Travels in India, 629–645 A.D. v2.c23.s10.1

v2.c23.s10.1

The pilgrim’s description proceeds. From Krism he went east over hills and across valleys for over 300 *li* to *Hi-(or Si)-mo-ta-lo*. This country, which was old Tokhara territory, was above 3000 *li* in circuit; it was an unbroken succession of hill and vale, with a fertile soil good for grain and yielding much early wheat with prolific vegetation and fruits in abundance. The climate was very cold; the people were of a violent impetuous disposition; they did not recognize moral retribution; they were small, ugly, and without good manners; in the materials of their clothing—coarse woollen cloth (felt), skins, and serge—they rather resembled the Turks. Their married women wore as a head-dress a wooden horn above three feet high, with two branches in front one above the other; the upper branch represented the woman's father-in-law and the lower her mother-in-law; a branch was removed from the horn on the death of the relative represented, and when both of the husband's parents were dead the horn head-dress was laid aside.