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348 ANAM.
should look for in vain either in the Chinese or the
Siamese.
" The shape of the body and limbs in the Cochin
Chinese, differs but little from that of the tribes
already noticed. The chest is short, large, and well
expanded ; the loins broad ; the upper extremities are
long, but well formed ; the lower are short, and re-
markably stout. There is this remarkable difference
from the others of the same race, that here the ten-
dency to obesity is of rare occurrence. The limbs,
though large, are not swollen with fat. The muscular
system is large and well developed, and the leg
in particular is almost always large and well formed.
The Cochin Chinese, though a laughing, are not a fat
people.
"
Though living in not merely a mild, but a warm
climate, the partiality for dress is universal. There
is no one, however mean, but is clothed at least from
the head to the knee. Nor is it comfort and conve-
nience alone that they study : they are not above the
vanity of valuing themselves on the smartness of their
dress, a failing which often leads them into extra-
vagance. The principal and most expensive article
in their dress is the turban. That of the men is made
of black crape, that of the women of blue. On occa-
sions of mourning, it is made of white crape.
" A loose jacket, somewhat resembling a large
shirt, but with wide sleeves, reaching nearly to the
knee, and buttoning on the right side, constitutes the
principal covering of the body. Two of these, the
under one of white silk, are generally worn, and they
increase the number according to their circumstances
and the state of the weather. Women wear a dress
but little different from this, though lighter, and both
wear a pair of wide pantaloons of various colours.