There is a great diversity of dress amongst the Chingpaw men, who wear either the Shan or Chinese costume, according to the neighbourhood in which they live. In all cases the difference in dress between different tribes is more marked amongst the women than the men. The tall turban and silver tube through the ear is characteristic of the Southern Kachin woman.
- Wallets.
Shoulder bags or wallets (Figs. 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40), are worn by all the hill tribes, and are used by the men to carry their tobacco pipes, money, etc. The women, who are skilful embroideresses, decorate the bags with stitchery, seeds, cowries, beads and tassels. The number of patterns is very great, and would make a study in itself, but roughly speaking, the Kachin bags seem to be more frequently decorated with tabs and fringes, red flannel being highly esteemed, than the Shan bags. The latter are made of very narrow cloth, have longer shoulder straps than the Kachin, and fringed ends of the cloth instead of the added fringe. Occasionally bags are come across made of a fine straw plait and covered with the skin of the python, of a monkey or other animal, which gives the whole affair a strange and wild appearance.
