Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-09-03
LETTERS FROM ASIA.

1
Extract from series Of letters, written By
an american gentleman " bile in Asia. 10
his friend in Boston. I he writer untor-
tunatcly died by the plague, on his pas
sage from Alexandria, in Egypt, to Con.
stantinoplc, in Grecian vessel
lbcstoa Patriot.
mo. 12.l
The baths, situated in various parts ofthe
J city OF Smyrna, are liequentcd by all cIas-
SEES OF people, but mostly by the Turks.
who consider them absolutely necessary
TO eradicate the imaginary impurities re.
ceived by the body, from touching any
thing pronounced by their religion as un-
clean.
The plague having subsidized, visited
one in the vicinity OF the Christian bazaar,
near Frank street. more from curiosity
than from any belief | then had in its u,ili-
~.
icntered by large arched door into
building composed. entirely of stone The
front room, eGpo! in size 10 small church,
was filed with sofas, having some on each
side, Of superior quality, solely for the
use Of Turks of the first rank, European
merchants residing in the city, and s;ran-
gers.
NY first care was to select from a number
of naked Greeks, suitable person to rub
my body, which being effected, | undres.
ed, although exposed to passengers in the
street, and about forty Turks who were
occupied, in a manner similar 10 myself,
Others in dressing, while the residue were
either asleep, or praying.
Cotton cloths were then fastened around
my waist, turbsn placed on my head, and
mounting pair of wooden shoes, was led
by my guide into room made exec ssively
hot by fires under the building, where sat
down, and amused myself about minutes
with cup O! coffee, and pipe.
Thence was led TO the great bath, be-
ing circular room about one third larger
than the first, having an arch extending over
the whole, perforated with holes like
honey comb. Here the heat became SO
excessive, that il was with difficulty | could
respire, and | actually feared sufocaiion,
ill! was relieved by profuse perspiration.
On marble circular slab in the centre
of the room, raised about one foot from the
floor, were several Turks going through the
various ceremonies of the place, while a.
bout twenty other small slabs, at equal dis
tances. placed against the walls, were
mostly occupied in similar manner.
On one | was directed to lie down, when
my Greek commenced cracking the joints
Of the bones in my arms and legs, which
rather tended to create laughter than pain,
but when he placed his knee on my breast
bone, endeavored TO extricate myself from
bis grasp, but finding it vain, and observing
from his smiles that he intended no harm,
permitted him TO crack that also. He
hen put on pair Of mittens composed Of
horse hair, and rubbed me from head to
foot, turning ME over from one side TO the
other with as little ceremony as he would
have used with LOG.
One hour had nearly elapsed without
any water being used, and began TO sus-
pect that it would be dispensed with, but
soon found myself laboring under mis-
AXE, for the moment he had ceased rub
Ding, he almost drowned me with warm
water, pouring about ten buckets full on my
lead. He then washed my hair aud body
with soap suds, and finally drenched me
with another deluge OF water
When arose, he cast off my wet clothes
md turban, replacing others that were dry,
having previously wiped me with warm
owels, and led me TO the intermediate
Dom, which felt quite cold, where again
'emained several minutes drinking coffee
md smoking, in order to cool as gradually
IS became heated when entering the
DON where had undressed, lay down
N a sofa, covered myself, with blankets,
md beguiled an hour in smoking from
ong pipe which was presented me as
;reat mark Of respect,