1 in India amt in Persia, for colouring inv beard:. tuid in generally
2 recognised by the orientals (who are extremely fond of possessing
3 fine long black hair), as tilt best preparation for the purposel
4 Tlu powdered •Lairsoni.'i ivermis is made by water into a soft
5 pap, and applied in that state to the {hair, taking care that
6 all the hair is completely overspread to the roots. It is then
7 covered, and fastened up with leaves, or by a piece of wax¬
8 cloth or oilskin, ancl having been suffered to remain (or from
9 half-an hour to an hour, the preparation is then washed off.
10 The effect of this is to dye the hair a bright red colour; which
11 colour, by the next 'process, is converted into a beautiful black.
12 The second application is a paste prepared with wafer from
13 the powder of the indigo plant which 1 have before mentioned ;
14 it is ust'd in a. similar manner to tin first, hut must be allows!
15 to remain on the hair for three hours; being then washed off,
16 the operation of dying is completed, and the hair is rubbed
17 with oil or jioiiiaturn, to give ii lustn and suppleness. J'he
18 only inconvenience of the processes I have described) which
19 are so cheap in the east, is that they require to be repeated
20 'bout once a week, for, as the hair grows - from the roots, jt
21 would otherwise, after a few days, show at that part the cat oral
22 colour of the hair, and consequently present a very unsightly
23 appeal ant e. These operations are generally performed at noon,
24 a time when every one is at home, either for rest or indoor
25 occupation.
26 A weak solution of nitrate of silver i» sometimes used in
27 Europe for dying the hair, but if this be used after the prepara¬
28 tions which I have just described, instead of darkening, it
29 will convert the colour into a grey like that of ashes;—this
30 fact I learned from the Nabob, Jubber Khan, at Cabul, who,
31 having admired the colour of my beard, and ascertained it to be
32 produced by nitrate of silver, forthwith applied it to his own
33 huir, which laid been previously dyed with the compositions I
34 have described. The result was as indicated, and the nabob
35 became for some time the laughing stock of the community',
36 Beside - the solution of nitrate of silver, they use in Europe