Take ten pounds of white oil soap, and ten pounds of Joppa soap. Cut
them into small square pieces, which set to dry for three days: the
oil-soap, particularly, must be thus dried.
Scrape, very finely, five pounds of oil-soap, which dry for one day,
in the open air, mix it well in the shaving-box with five pounds of
powder, add an ounce and a half of the best vermilion.
In mixing, place pieces of soap, and coloured powder, in layers in
the box, making, in all, four alternate layers of each. When a layer
of each has been placed in the box, sprinkle a pint of rose-water
over the _cut soap_; for if it be much combined with the powder, it
will become lumpy and hard, and consequently spoil the wash-balls.
The same quantity of rose-water is to be used for moistening each
of the other soap layers. Next mix a pint of thin starch, which has
been well boiled in half a pint of rain water, with half a pint of
rose-water, and distribute it equally well mixed among the mass, by
turning it over repeatedly, and then press it down close with the
hands. If a piece be now cut out from the mass, the operator will
perceive whether the marbling is sufficiently good; and if so, he may
proceed immediately to form his wash-balls.