A nomad’s yurt needed to be portable. When the time came to move their herds of sheep. cattle, and horses to greener pastures the structure and all the belongings inside it were dismantled and packed upon horses and camels for the migration.

With the exception of a few wooden storage chests, there was no furniture. Textiles made up most of the furnishings. Felt carpets and handwoven rugs covered the dirt floor; bedding quilts were stacked upon the chests; and storage bags were hung from the lattice framework. Each bag was made for a specific purpose. The largest bags (chuval and torba) were woven like carpets and hung hammock-like. They usually contained the family’s clothing. Smaller bags were used to hold items such as scissors, spoons, coins, and personal items. Small, flat envelope-shaped bags called “bokche” were sometimes used to hold flatbread. Chai khaltas were special little bags that a man’s wife made for him to carry loose tea in. Often beautifully embroidered, a man would take it with him to the teahouse where he was provided with a porcelain teapot of hot water and a drinking bowl. There he could while away the time sipping green tea and chatting with his friends.