Macgowan says the traders kidnap a boy and skin him alive bit by bit, transplanting on the denuded surfaces the hide of a bear or dog.

This process is most tedious and is by no means complete when the hide is completely transplanted, as the subject must be rendered mute by destruction of the vocal cords, made to use all fours in walking, and submitted to such degradation as to completely blight all reason.

It is said that the process is so severe that only one in five survive.

A "wild boy" exhibited in Kiangse had the entire skin of a dog substituted and walked on all fours.

It was found that he had been kidnapped.