Meer Hassan Ali, B.: Observations on the Mussulmauns of India: descriptive of their manners, customs, habits, and religious opinions ; made during a twelve years residence in their immediate Society (Band 2) (London, 1832)

72 SULMAH.

make hedge-rows of it in their grounds, the
blossom is very simple, and the shrub itself
hardy : the dye is permanent.

" Sulmah."—A prepared permanent black
dye, from antimony. This is used with hair-
pencils to the circle of the eye at the root of the
eye-lashes by the Native ladies and often by
gentlemen, and is deemed both of service to
the sight and an ornament to the person. It
certainly gives the appearance of large eyes, if
there can be any beauty in altering the natural
countenance, which is an absurd idea, in my
opinion. Nature is perfect in all her works;
and whatever best accords with each feature of
a countenance I think she best determines;
I am sure that no attempt to disguise or alter
Nature in the human face ever yet succeeded,
independent of the presumption in venturing to
improve that which in His wisdom, the Creator
has deemed sufficient.

It would occupy my pages beyond the limits
I can conveniently spare to the subject, were
I to pursue remarks on the popular cries of
a NatiA'e city to their fullest extent; scarcely