Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-04-26
THE SEVEN HELLS OF JAPAN
And Their Curious Springs of
Boiling Hot Water.
Al VERY INTERESTING COUNTRY
Where People do the Most
Surprising Things.
walking Naked Through tho Streets
Quser Steam Baths-rhe Hot Water
Utilized for Family Cooking-A strange
People and Their Religious suPersti-
lions,

secured from the natives intelligence Of
remarkable place in the remote in
terror of an island belonging TO Japan
called kicuslu, says writer in the 81.
Louis Globe Democrat. The place Is com
monty called "Seyen Hells," and, on
account of its inaccessibility and remote-
ness, has seldom been visited by Ameri-
cans or so much as referred to in print.
determined to visit this japanese in
ferno, and, having everything arranged,
set out, with provisions for a two
weeks travel.
The first few days were spent in
small japanese steamer, crossing three
or four inland seas, and winding around
at least 1000 ditfelent islands to get in
reach of the mainland that would lead
me to the end Of my journey. 1t may
appear to be an eXaggeration to speak of
so many islands and seas, but when it is
remembered that Japan alone has 1900
islands and at least 100 different seas it
will not appear strange that | passed
1000 islands in search of the one on
which is the phenomenon,
When | had got as far as could go by
water, there was nothing left for me
but to try the crude mode of travel of
the islanders for 100 miles or more. |
hired a jiuriksha and two coolies TO pull
me and az once proceeded. A whole
day and night were spent i'll this funny
vehicle, until came at last to noun
tains so steep that it was impossible for
me TO ride further Then another
change in my mode of travel was made.
hired coolie and pack, horse to carry
my baggage, while Il took my foot in
my hand and walked" for 20 miles over
that rugged mountain.
Once over the mountains was almost
| in sight of the "SeYen Hells.n An arm
of another sea dashed up in narrow
neck. On every side stood gigantic
mountains capped with snow, while be-
low lay the beautiful valley. Itseemed
as if | might be entering paradise. l
walked little further and in a moment
the earth resounded as if thousand
cannons were exploded beneath me. Il
| had reached the "Seven Hells," and all
that had been told me of the place was
fully demonstrated.
just few yards from where stood
was the "boiling sea-" A great smoke
/ and steam arose like cloud from the
water, and upon examination | found
that the sea of water was boiling and
hubbling like pot over stove. The
water was scalding hot and would cook
an egg in two minutes. This boiling
sea is considered sacred by the natives.
and the government had at one time to
erect fence around it to keep the peo-
pie from plunging in.
From the boiling sea continual
stream Of hot water runs down through
a village of about 800 people, who are
the most peculiar human beings outside
of China. In the centre of the village
is big, round bath of hot water from
the sea. In this bath from 10 to % arc
constantly to be seen bathing. There
are no screens or coverings, but men
women and children all battle together
in Adamic simplicity. l saw at one
time nine women and ten men in the
bath.
About so steps away from this place
is ''sweat BATH" dedicated to one Of
their gods. An open shelter is built ir
the streets over q cavern in the earth
which, they say, Buddha built for them
The excavation has door to it similar
to an old-fashioned sweet-potato houst
that Southerners build to keep theil
potatoes from freezing in the winter
The door is about 3 feet square anC
there is no way for either a person O
the steam TO escape except by this door
In the front were priests selling ticket
for half cent each and six person
were admitted to the sweat bath a
, once. just over the entrance stands al
image of Budhha, with rice cakes
l flowers and incense OF offerings. Tn
t people worshipped as they went in
! while an old priest stood by, telling TIL
! people that whosoever bathed in faitl
t should be cured of all maladies. Tn
lame and crippled tlocked around ant
l listened with eagerness.
The priest said that Buddha sen
down his angel, who met an ancien
! priest and told him that he would writ
l the name of Buddha on q stone an
4 cover it with the earth and cause til
! mountains to gush out with hot waite
$ and flow over the name of Buddha 70
: the healing of all diseased believers
: "This," said the priest, Is the plac
a prepared by the great gods and ii yo
0 would be healed enter in and battle.
Il 1t was. amazing to notice the delude
s men and women in companies of 81
go into the bath and stay until almos
s dead from suffocation and come GU
9 dripping with perspiration and covere
g with straw.
0 1t seems that stream from the boil
;. ing sea runs under the excavation, an
G inside is thrown lot of straw ON whic
these men and women spread themselyt
+ and stay until they fairly roast them
q selves alive. From this place they G
l. to hot shower bath, which consists {
Q several large bamboo poles placed in
y waterfall from the hot sea, which fe
J. about 10 feet upon the bodies of th
'e saints just from the sweat bath. Fro
the shower bath they go to the fountai
bath, where the course is completes
The entire process often takes sever
" hours and is gone through withol
ID clothing or towels of any kind. Tn
ii keeps the streets alive with men an
s. women walking here and there as make
1t as they were born into the world.
as Another popularity of this stran!
10 people is the way they cook and eg
ut Everything they do has some religio,
It. superstition connected with it, and tho
lie cooking and eating are no exceptio
10 am safe in saying that no people {
10 earth cook like the people who live
at the "Seven Hels" ON the island
p Kieushu, in the marvellous little matte
of Japan. They have arranged to II
the water from the boiling sea in SIM
streams, about a foot under the surfa
n. of the earth, right in front of eve
nj mans door.
IN Over these streams are mud owe
n built like u pot, with a lid over some
a them. In their ovens tine people pla
il whatever they want 10 cook, and t
ali steam from the hot waterdoes the woI
ot This is certainly better than natural g
- MANY Of the neOnle md In fAct most