Untitled - Life and Culture on the Tibetan Plateau

attendees are offered food, regardless of their interest in
eating.
Peanuts, sunflower seeds, apples, <strong>and</strong> c<strong>and</strong>ies are
offered. Peanuts <strong>and</strong> sunflower seeds are especially plentiful
<strong>and</strong> are mostly enjoyed by female guests.
Drinks <strong>and</strong> Cigarettes
Tea is only offered to the guests during meals. Otherwise
liquor, beer, <strong>and</strong> cigarettes are offered. No special
non-alcoholic drinks are prepared for females during the
party; they may drink liquor <strong>and</strong> beer if they want, but few
do. There is a chang ma (liquor servant), for each double row
of seating. Each chang ma is a member of the family's sha
nye. He stays in his appointed double row of seating at all
times <strong>and</strong> enthusiastically offers liquor, beer, <strong>and</strong> cigarettes
to guests.
Liquor, beer, <strong>and</strong> cigarettes are purchased according to
the family's financial condition. Expensive liquor <strong>and</strong>
cigarettes are not required. The most common liquors are
Yipin huzhu (8.70 RMB per bottle), Huzhu daqu (six RMB
per bottle), <strong>and</strong> Huzhu tequ (nine RMB per bottle). These
liquors are produced in the Huzhu Liquor Company in
Weiyuan, Mtsho shar Region, Mtsho sngon Province.
Common cigarettes are Ruan furong (two RMB per package)
<strong>and</strong> Ying furong (2.5 RMB per package), which are made by
the Henan Zhongyan Gongye Company in Henan Province
<strong>and</strong> Jinxuchang (three RMB per package). The most
common beer prepared for the ceremony is Huanghe (Yellow
River; two RMB per bottle) made by the Qinghai Huanghe
Jianiang Beer LTD Company in Zi ling City.
Dressing the Girl's Hair
The girl's hair is made into many small braids. There is no
particular number of braids; it depends on the thickness <strong>and</strong>
length of the hair. Skra lung are connected to the end of the
braids. A single wooden comb is used when braiding the
girl's hair; plastic combs are never used. We were unable to
find anyone who could explain why. The liquid for making
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