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