AND LOWER EGYPT. 277 



such as the stove-baths of the East, in which a 

 copious perspiration distils from all parts of the 

 body. They dilute the mixture with water, and 

 rub it gently on the part to be depilated. A few 

 moments after, they try if the hair is detaching it- 

 self; they then take it off without feeling any 

 pain, and wash in warm water. Care must be 

 taken not to let the paste remain too long, other- 

 wise it would burn the skin. This does not pre- 

 vent the hair from growing again, and, after some 

 time, it is found requisite to repeat the operation. 



The women, and, at present, I am speaking 

 only of such as are married, for young Women 

 keep themselves as nature made them, and it is 

 not till the very day of marriage tlrat they are pi- 

 tilessly stripped of the veil of nature ; the women, 

 I say, jealous of diffusing over their whole person 

 an exact and uniform polish, employ neither 

 razor nor nouret, which leave after them vestiges 

 offensive to the touch, which it is their great so- 

 licitude to prevent. Nothing can resist an ex- 

 treme desire to appear perfectly beautiful. They 

 submit to a painful operation, to a violent and 

 total deracination, which is performed by an ap- 

 plication of honey made into a paste with turpen- 

 tine, or some sort of gum ; and when this plaster 

 is become dry, it is torn off with all that adheres 

 to it. Fortunately there is no need to return often 



T 3 tO 



