The population of the Kirgiz people is around 140000 and they are mainly concentrated in the Kizilsu Kirgiz Autonomous Prefecture, with a small number scattered in different places in North and South Xinjiang. Most of them are engaged in animal husbandry and some in farming. The men like to wear round-necked embroidered white shirts with a collarless long'chapan' of either sheepskin, blue or black cloth, and baggy pants and high boots. Their hats come in various styles,and regardless of age or season most like to wear vdvetskullcaps of either purple, blue, green or black. The women like to wear collarless, open-down-the-front jackets reaching just above the knees, and decorated with silver buckles. Young women favor red dresses and red velvet pillbox hats prettily decorated with beads, tassles, and feathers, or they wear red otter-fur hats.They also wear red or green headscarves, while older matrons prefer white ones. The jewelry they wear are bracelets, earrings, necklaces, and rings made from  silver, and some hang strings of engraved silver dollars behind their backs. Their three-string instrument, the 'Kumiss", can be used as a solo instrument, for accornpaniment, in duets, or group performance. Its tone is sweet,and the performers are usually very versatile and humorous in their entertainment. The well-known epic poem "Manass" is the pride of the Kirgiz people.