Re: Yemenese paint

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: : Hi all. A friend came a-visiting bearing gifts, one of which was a : : yemenese dye that is used at weddings. I first thought that she was : : bringing henna, she quickly corrected me, saying that this paint IS : : characteristically black and is actually a type of dried nut shell. : : Lo and behold, I opened the small packet she gave me and found ash- : : colored curved bits of shell. If any of you have seen the henna : : technique in yemen, this dye is used to make outlines of flowers, : : etc. all over the body, and the henna is used to fill in designs. : : Anyway, my question is: what is this dye called and does anyone : have : : any experience preparing it? Also, is its safety questionable? : : HOpefully someone can reply really soon because I am leaving for a : : trip. Thanks! : : ~Rupal : : I met an importer from Nigeria that has the same substance. The answer : I got from him is that the dye is called saumer, and the shell bits : are boiled (he thinks) and the resulting dye is painted on with a : brush. He's going to get the recipe from his father, who speaks no : english. Hopefully there is nothing lost in translation. He said it's : totally safe, people use it all the time for festivals, and it lasts : around a month. : Carrie

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