THIRTV-FIVE YEARS IN THE EAST. I^I 



jTood as regards warm bathing; in winter ; and it is liiglily 

 danf^erous to leave the bath too suddenly, and expose the 

 body to the influence of the cold air. The natives, both 

 Moslenfis and Hindoos— male or female — whether winter or 

 summer — hot or cold — whether in the Ravee or the Gancjes — 

 by drenching themselves at the wells, or washing in their own 

 homes — are, figuratively speaking, always in the water. 

 Their simple and favorite beverage is — not beer, wine or 

 brandy, but sherbet, i.e., water sweetened with raw sugar, 

 and therefore they generally enjoy good health. They make 

 great use also of gymnastic exercises, in which tshapi and 

 mtdi are special favorites when they are fatigued, and assist 

 materially in promoting the circulation ; the former may be 

 described as pinching, and the latter is a process of strik- 

 ing with both fists on the body. The natives of India 

 have also a peculiar Way of rinsing the mouth and cleansing 

 the teeth, which is generally done when they perform their 

 religious exercises, of which ablution is an essential part. 

 They use for this purpose the twigs or branches of vari- 

 ous trees and shrubs ; but as each nation uses a different 

 kind of twig, &c., it would occupy too much space to de- 

 tail the numerous plants employed ; it is sufficient to observe, 

 that they are generally of an astringent nature, and whilst 

 cleansing and strengthening the gums, have a beneficial effect 

 on the stomach also. 



The Sikhs generally employ an hour or two In the opera- 

 tions of the toilet ; and before ablution they rub their hair 

 ( which in most cases is long and black ) with curds. When 

 the hair has become silvered by age, they dare not dye it, 

 being strictly forbidden by their religious tenets. The 

 Musselmen, however, are very fond of dyeing the hair, and 

 for that purpose make use of a great variety of compositions 

 containing oxide of iron, myrobolans, Lawsonia inennis^ 

 Indio^ofera Anil, Bic. They also darken the eyelashes with 

 black sulphurets of lead or antimony. 



The following are the recipes for two of the hair dyes 

 which are principally in request:— Of Lawsonia inermis 

 and Indigofera Anil, take each two parts, and of dried myrtlQ 

 26 



