The Republican., 1894-04-19
JAPAN'S SEVEN HELLS.
A Curious Hot Spring Where Men and
Women Do Surprising Things.

cured from the natives intelligence of
remarkable place in the remote in
terror of an island belonging to Japan
called Kieushu. The place is commonly
called ''Seven Hells," and, on account
of its inaccessibility and remotenAss,
has seldom been visited by Americans
or so much as referred to in print, |
determined to visit this Japanesein-
ferno, and having everything arranged
| set out with provisions for a TWO
weeks travel. The first few days we're
spent in a small Japanese steamer
crossing three or four inland SEAS and
winding around at least a thousand
different 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 il is
remem bered that Japan alone has four
thousand islands and at least hin-
dred different seas, it will not appear
strange that l passed thousand isl
ands in search of the one on which is
the phenomenon.
When L had got as far as l could go
by water, there was nothing left for
me but to try the crude mode of travel
of the islanders for hundred miles Or
more. l hired jinriksha and we,
ooelies TO pull me, anu at once
| ceeded. A whole day ana night {
spent in this funny vehicle, until 1
came at last to mountains so steep that
1t was impossible for me to ride fur
ther Then another change in my
| mode of travel was made. l hired a
coolle and pack horse to carry my bag
gage, while II took my foot in my
hand and walked" for twenty miles
over that rugged mountain.
Once over the mountains was almost
in sight of the Seven Hells" An arm
OF another sea lashed up in a narrow
neck. On every side stood gigantic
mountains capped with snow, while
below lay the beautiful valley. 1t
seemed as if l might be entering para
disc. l walked little further, and in
moment the earth resounded as if a
thousand cannons were exploded be-
meath me. | 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
bubbling like a pot over stove. The
water was scalding hot and would
cook an egg in two minutes. This boil
ing sea is considered sacred by the ma
tives, and the government had at one
time to erect fence around it to keep
the people from plunging in.
From the Boiling Sea a continual
stream of hot water runs down through
village of about three hundred people,
who are the most peculiar human
beings outside of China. In the center
of the village is a big round bath of hot
water from the sea- In this bath from
ten to twenty five are constantly to be
seen bathing. There are no screens or
coverings, but men, women and chill
dren all battle together in Adamic SIM
plicity. saw at one time nine women
and ten men in the bath.
About fifty steps away from this
place is sweat BATH" dedicated to
one of their gods. An open shelter is
built in the streets over a cavern in
the earth which they say Buddha built
for them. The excavation has a door
to it similar to an old-fashioned sweet
potato house that southerners build to
keep their potatoes from freezing in
the winter The door is about three
feet square, and there is no way for
either a person or the steam to escape
except by this door. In the front were
priests selling tickets for half cent
each, and six persons were admitted to
the sweat bath at once. Just over the
entrance stands an image of Buddha,
with rice cakes, flowers and incense
offerings The people worshiped as
they went in, while an old priest stood
by telling the people that whosoever
bathed in faith should be cured of all
maladies. The lame and crippled
hocked around and listened with eager
ness. The priest said that Buddha
sent down his angel, who met an
ancient priest and told him that he
would write the name of Buddha on a
stone and cover it with the earth and
cause the mountains to gush out with
hot water and flow over the name of
Buddha for the healing of all diseased
believers. This" said the priest, sis
the place prepared by the great gods,
and if you would be healed enter in
and bathe." 1t was amazing to notice
the deluded men and women, in com
panies of six, go into the bath and stay
until almost dead from suffocation,
and come out dripping with perspira-
ton and covered with straw. 1t seems
that a stream from the Boiling Sea
runs under the excavation, and inside
is thrown a lot of straw on which
these men and women spread them
selves and stay until they fairly roast
themselves alive. From this place
they go to a hot shower bath, which
consists of several large bamboo poles
placed in waterfall from the lot sea,
which fell about ten feet upon the
bodies of the saints just from the
sweat bath. From the shower bath
they go to the fountain BATH where
the course is completed. The entire
process often takes several hours and
is gone through with without clothing
or towels of any kind. This keeps the
streets alive with men and women
walking here and there as naked as