The Evansville journal., 1845-04-17

A TURKISH BATH.-The senior editor of
the Savannah Republican, who is travelling in
The East, writing from Damascus, says:
The morning after my arrival at Damascus,
went to take Turkish bath. have enjoyed
them in Conslantlnople, Beyrout, aud Damascus
The process, rooms, &c, are nearly the same IN
all but as the one here is decidedly more ele-
CANT, prefer to describe it. Following my guide
we stopped at the door OF a building, not re-
markable in its exterior. Entering, we saw
paved marble floor quite spacious, with Its Jets
Of water turning little wheels which caused
number of small bells to ring quite merry.-|
Three sides Of this room, which was lighted
from dome W ere provided with raised platforms
eight or nine feet wide, corresponding TO divan
on which the mattresses, &c. were placed for
reclining and cooling off. was here undressed
by TWO hall max ed attendants, who put turban
on my head, and substituted sundry napkins for
my clothes. Each one OF the men took an arm.
and carried me into the first room, where the
Temperature was not very hot, and then into
warmer one, and lasiy,nto the warnesf. My
feet were placed in clogs, with strap for the
toes, in which hobbed along most mserably
All these rooms had marble floors, with slight
inclination. They were quite hot, and the VapoE
WINS at FIRST oppressive They were lighted from
a dome. the light passing through small circles
and crescents OF thick glass. In the least room,
where stopped longest, counted thirteen
kinds Of marble, all of which were perfectly
beautiful. Here | WAS required to lie down, and
after the perspiraion began TO ooze from every
pore, the work of purhcation commenced
by the operator rubbing me all over with glove
OF coarse hair This done most thoroughly,
and with the utmost deliberation. l was then
soused most literally with most hot water from
marble basin inserted into the wall into which
two cocks admitted warm or Geld water al pleas
ure. During all this time my operator was shou
ting. singing and chipping his hands, all whiet
sounds we're returned from the root In loud rev
erberations. | may add, that ne not only ala p
ped hands, but slapped me, putting in an occa
siona pinch, by way OF variety. About thi
time began TO gasp tor breath little, and poin
ted TO the cold water, some Of which he threw
me al my request.
The man next brought large bright brass ba
sin, with some fine White soap, and a quantit
OF clean hemp fibre, with which he produced !
beautiful lather In a few moments which he dash
cd about me, filling my eyes and ears, aud scru b
bing me all over, inviting me to help him Thi
being done, the hotwate wasagan dashed owe
me; aud some after the other attendant appeare
with dry napkins and another turban with wbicl
was soon invested, having been deprived OF tn
others before commencing operations | was tn e
conducted out as had come in, aud after anoth
set OF clean dry cloths were provided Tor m {
was made to lie down on u matress nv hea
supported by large pillows, SO that was almo.
in sitting posture Here, after some pinchin
and rubbing, was let alone and coffee was III g
brought to me, which in myexhausted state ta
ted like nectar. Soon after the marquflle wa
handed This is the water pipe. lthas tub
(hexiblel about eight feet long, through whc
the smoke issuee alter passing through, which
ia glass stand. 1t is not smoked like the chtl
ouque. but requires deep Inspiration of Ill
lungs, some OF the smoke going into them
exercises the lungs, powerfully. aud must be
remedial agents for The asthma Ieave il to otl
ers 10 imagine, ''sensaiions which cannot be d.
scribed'' on coming out OF the bath. You le
the most luxgTious @tndolence, perfect repos
even temper at peace with the world, strong
inclined TO sleep. .sand if you were rich as Csesu
you would not.ieel any better than you 90. A
ter being Will cooled, was assisted to dres
and tue putting nine piRstres, forty five cent
on the mirror for the balh and buckshsh for a
tendanis, made my way home, where some re
rest was requisite previous to breakfast