Rod dye. Lump of 'umdiki', red ochre earth.
It is ground into a powder. As a solution in water, it is used for dyeing women's and girl's skirts and cloaks. Powdered ochre may be beaten into garments. As a paste mixed with water, it is rubbed on the skin of children; young married women 'umtshakazi', plural 'abatshakazi' to denote their status; all married women for feasts; young men when newly emerged from seclusion after circumcision, when they accompany a diviner to the river for the 'hlwayelelo' ceremony; and by the groom and his attendants at traditional weddings.
