Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-05-01

ious sacn e1Diuons may appear there Is always
thing in believing people to be in earnest when they pray
and especially when they cry that touches one in ten
der part Thus closes the ceremony of the bowling der
oriental sight srikingy picturesque ane
impressive, from which idea may be formed of thu
state Of civilization in the East
From Scutari to Gaata in the French quarter is
pleasant Of half an hour in caique One may ever,
day breakfast in Europe and dine in Asia which IS Of
ten done by those who have business in Scutari The
view Of Pera and Stambou from this point is very fine
and should be enjoyed by all who wish to see Constantine
pie and its suburbs in different phase from that afforded
from the higher points ON the Bosphorus
The baths of Constantnope have been SO often escrb
ed that going to be eccentric and say nothing about
them In truth, there is very little to say about any
thing either in Europe the East that has not been said
before thousand times and the only hope Of ORR
gnaty writer hope for is in now and then tell
ing bit of truth For this reason, hoping that might
accidentally start up something novel, have sudiousy
avoided books of all kinds and up to the present writing
have only had occasional glance at such
my feowtravelers happened to carry about them
force upon my attention by reading them OF mis-
takes be made sometimes under such
but they easily be corrected by reference the stand
ard authorities. u s -
If the baths of Constantinople however, have been
fully described there is still branch of the subject that
affords some little for variety the Syrian
baths of Damascus These the general prn-
cpe that is to say, the principle of parboing people
out of their SKINS have smarting recollection Of the
whole process and while the subject is fresh my mind
shall endeavor to give you an idea of it. M
We arrived the Hotel de Palyre after eight days
wandering the mountains Of Lebanon and among the
ruins Of Baabek covered with the dust of travel and
the filth and vermn of Turkish khans. The first consi-
Iteration next morning was Damascus bath. My Eng
sh friend he captain Of oriental steamer had been
in Syria BEFORE and knew all about the native baths He
said they were stunning word signifyng every thing
wonderful in an Englishman's mouth. Stunning
baths supposed to be baths that knock into cooked
hat oil mans preconceived ideas Of the Injuries of
bathing, and it is expressive word Disco
vered An Arab youth accompanied us from the hotel
with special nunctons from the padrona show us to
the baths patronized by his late master Lord Bath
don't know how often his lordshp went there but it is
be hoped that he often enough to be ceansed Of
the impurities of rather aprolonged sooura in Damascus
We followed our guide through confusing Of mar
row and dirty Streets till he disappeared in most for
bidding doorway; and it was not until he re-appeared
and had repeatedly urged us to enter, that could
consent to- paronize such an unpromisng place He
sured u.s. however that we should find the baths taA5
ptuciu
than they looked from the outside Passing through an
open courtyard, in which were countless Arabs half
Naked up to their elbows in dirty clothes and soap-suds
entered large circular hail. the public dressing and
saloon where payments made and coffee
and chbouks handed round. A fountain Of cold water
stood in the middle into which dark unshrted of
the establishment plunged their arms and heads to
cool themselves, and out of which they and then
dipped up water for thirsty customers. Around the
saloon was elevated platform, upon which stood
circular Of low bedsteads most of which appeared
be occupied TWAS strange sight altogether; every
side extraordinary appartons of dusky bearded men
rising up out of the Sheets Withholding Arabs with bald
heads running about screaming horribly grey and grz-
zled old Turks falling their faces towards Mecca;
mist of cold steam rising from the sloppy marble floor
and the whole space overhead filed with dangling clothes
hung up lines dry in the reekng atmosphere. In
retired part of the room, behind huge pile of smok
ing towelr the master of the establishments
rable Arab with beard reaching to his middle. He
also smoking calmly amid all the turmoil and only
stopped at long intervals to note down something on
pile Of paper which he held his lap / believe that
man was writing book-probably learned work on
hydropahy showing the absurdtes Of Prenitz and his
followers in chilling the blood with cold water when they
might comfortably boil it up to the proper temperature
in hot water To this venerable Of letters we made
known wants best could in broken mixture of
Italian and French through guide, who understood
something dozen words Of each stating that we
had long way and hearing in Damascus of the ia
repute of his baths had determined to try them
The old raised his head looked us solemny for
time, if he suspected that might be nctured
with the hereses of Presniz, and then waved his hand
grayey towards asubordnae unconary who stood near
The subordinate covered up high the head in
pyramid Of towels. I" Friend" said we "can't YOU
show into private dressing We Franks don't
like to make models Of ourselves in public" "Imposs-
ble" said he, Through guide, Of course,) eyery
body undresses here" But we are hopad,T Of rank
and mustn't be COMPOUNDED with people besides
are willing to pay double for private room" "0h
to that" replied the man. very much affected by our
allusion to bdckshsh, q knew you mi-lords but
very sorry indeed this is the custom In Damascus
We have private here" And do you expect
u.s. said sernly to strip ourselves before all those
naked wretches?" praised be Allah" retorted the
man. "we battle none here but res and pashas Don't
you his hghness there" pointing to Incorporation Of
living skeleton very dirty sitting up in apile Of sheets
that's pasha; and his exceency the left direct
ing our attention to greasy baldbeaded old Turk, who
was amusing himself picking the Heas off bis Shirt
that's Of the chief officers Of the government and
there, and there-al pashas and men Of distinction"
Enough" said we; strip us and boil us BE quick
aboutit and that are well scrubbed" Mounting
the PLATFORM selected two BEDS and with the assist
of the chief of Stockholders soon reduced to
bare legs and short linens Further than that we stouty
frovr eit