The clothing of the Tuchuks is somewhat dissimilar from the garments worn on other parts of the planet Gor. Freewomen of the Tuchuks, for example, are not veiled. They wear long dresses made from the tanned skin of the bosk, and their hair is braided.

The slavegirl of the Tuchuks, on the other hand, is forbidden to bind her hair in any way except one: she is allowed to tie it back with a strip of red cloth which is known as the Koora. She wears three articles of slave clothing as well. Around her waist is tied a binding of red cord, known as the Curla. A long, narrow strip of leather, called the Chatka, is held in place by the Curla. It passes underneath the cord, between her thighs, and up over the cord in back, with the long ends hanging free. She also wears a short, open vest of black leather, the Kalmak.

A girl who is mistrusted by her master may be stripped of all garments, so that she cannot hide a weapon on her person. She may also be belled at wrists and ankles so that her movements can be easily kept track of.

The male slaves of the Tuchuks (Kajiri) are generally captives from Turia, the great city on the plains. They wear a single garment, a sleeveless jerkin of black leather called the Kes.

It is a mistake to assume that the kajirae of the Tuchuks are shy, shame-faced victims. Quite the contrary. As John Norman writes,

I saw several girls, here and there, clad Kajir; they were magnificent; they walked with the true brazen insolence of the slave girl, the wench who knows that she is owned, whom men have found beautiful enough, and exciting enough, to collar.

Tuchuk slaves generally wear the Turian collar, which is a round ring that fits very loosely around the neck. When the collar is grasped in a Master's fist, the slave can turn around in it. The collar is engraved with identifying marks, so that the slave can be returned to the proper Master if he/she attempts an escape.

All women of the Tuchuks, whether slave or free, wear a thin gold ring in the nose, just as do the bosk. The ring is delicate, and catches the light when the woman moves, adding greatly to her beauty.

The dress of a Tuchuk warrior is described by John Norman as follows:

I could see he carried a small, round, leather shield, glossy black, lacquered; he wore a conical, fur-rimmed iron helmet, a net of colored chains depending from the helmet protecting his face, leaving only holes for the eyes. He wore a quilted jacket, and under this a leather jerkin; the jacket was trimmed with fur and had a fur collar; his boots were made of hide and also trimmed with fur; he had a wide, five-buckled belt. I could not see his face because of the net that hung before it. I also noted, about his throat, now lowered, there was a soft leather wind scarf which might, when the helmet veil was lifted, be drawn over the mouth and nose, against the wind and dust of his ride.

In winter, all Tuchuks, whether slave or free, wear clothing designed to protect them from the bitter cold of the Plains: heavy coats, bosk-hide trousers, furred boots, and caps with ear-flaps that tie under the chin. Kajirae, of course, wear their hair unbound, as usual, and this is often the only visible sign of their slave status during the winter months. Some slavegirls also wear their Turian collars outside of their coats, beneath the furred collar. Kajiri (he-slaves) are shackled at the ankles, and the foot or so of chain is a visible reminder to all that they are captives.

Return to Tuchuk Main Page



This page hosted by Get your own Free Home Page

1