172 THIRTY-FIVE YEARS IN THE EASt. 



leaves and emblic myrobolans, each one part ; these are made 

 into powder and mixed with water to the consistency of 

 a soft poultice, which is applied to the hair. It is stated 

 that this composition stimulates the growth of the hair, 

 blackens that which is grey, and presents its splitting. The 

 second recipe is one which I have myself used in earlier years, 

 in India and in Persia, for colouring my beard ; and is 

 generally recognised by the orientals ( who are extremely 

 fond of possessing fine long black hair ), as the best pre- 

 paration for the purpose. The powdered Lawsonia inermis 

 is made by water into a soft pap, and applied in that 

 state to the hair, taking care that all the hair is completely 

 overspread to the roots. It is then covered, and fastened 

 up with leaves, or by a piece of waxcloth or oilskin, and hav- 

 ing been suffered to remain for from half-an-hour to an 

 hour, the preparation is then washed off. The effect of this 

 is to dye the hair a bright red colour ; which colour, by 

 the next process, is converted into a beautiful black. The 

 second application is a paste prepared with water from the 

 powder of the indigo plant which I have before mentioned ; 

 it is used in a similar manner to the first, but must be 

 allowed to remain on the hair for three hours ; being then 

 washed off, the operation of dying is completed, and the 

 hair is rubbed with oil or pomatum, to give it lustre and 

 suppleness. The only inconvenience of the processes I have 

 described, which are so cheap in the east, is that they re- 

 quire to be repeated about once a week, for, as the hair 

 grows from the roots, it would otherwise, after a few days,, 

 show at that part the natural colour of the hair, and con- 

 sequently present a very unsightly appearance. These opera- 

 tions are generally performed at noon, a time when 

 every one is at home, either for rest or indoor occupa- 

 tion. 



A weak solution of nitrate of silver is sometimes used 

 in Europe for dying the hair, but if this be used after the 

 preparations which I have just described, instead of darken- 

 ing, it will convert the colour into a grey like that of 

 ashes ;— this fact I learaed from the Nabob, Jubber Khaa, 



