Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-04-07
THE SEVEN HELLS.
A CURIOUS HOT SPRING on ONE or
THE JAPANESE ISLANDS.


Themselves In Boiling Hot Water a
Cooking Apparatus Which Beat. Natural
CASA Travellers Tall story.
Being out On the coast Of Korea and ia.
pan, looking for things curious. secured
from the natives intelligence Of a remark.
able place in the remote interior II an IL
land belonging to Japan called Kiushiu.
The place IL commonly called Seven Hells,
and on account Of its inaccessibility and
remoteness has seldom been visited by
Americans or 20 much as referred 20 in
print. I determined to visit this japanese
inferno. and having everything arranged
set out with provisions for two weeks
travel The first few days were spent In n
small japanese steamer crossing three ot
four inland seas and winding around at
leas. a thousand different islands ~ get in
reach Of the mainland that would lead me
10 the end Of my journey. IL may appear
10 he an exaggeration 10 speak Of 20 many
islands and seas, but when Ii il renem-
bered that Japan alone has 4 900 islands
and at Ieast 90 different seas 1t win not
appear strange that I passed 900 Islands
In search Of the one on which Is the phc-
nOmenop
When ! had got "a far ms could 20 by
wnter there was nothing left for me but
10 try the crude mode Of travel Of the Is
Ianders for 100 miles or more hired u
jinriksha and two coolies to pull me and
at once proceeded. a whole day and night
were spent in this funny vehicle until |
came at last to mountains 80 steep that 1t
was impossible for me Ia ride farther.
Then another change ia my mode of travel
was made | hired cody and pack horse
10 carry my baggage. while II 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 seven Iiells IN arm OF an
other sea dashed MP ia n narrow neck. On
every side stood gigantic mountains capped
with snow, while below lay the beautiful
valley. II seemed "a II | might be enter
ing paradise. walked little farther,
and in n moment the earth rcsonndcd a.
If n thousand cannons were exploded be.
meath me had reached the Seven Hella,
and all that had been told me Of the place
was fully demonstrated.
Just few yards from where stood was
the Boiling sea. \ great smoke and steam
arose like n cloud from the water. and
upon examination found that the sea OF
water was boiling and bubblng like a pot
over stove. The water was scalding hot,
and would cook an egg in two minutes,
This Boiling sea IL considered sacred by the
natives. and the government had Mt one
time 10 erect fence around 1t 70 keep the
people from pungiug in.
From the Boiling sea continual stream
of hot water runs down through n village
Of about 800 people who are the most pc
culiar human beings outside Of China. In
the center of the village is big round
bath of hot water from the sea. In this
bath from 10 TO 25 are constantly to he
seen bathing There ara no screens or GOV
erings, but men. women and children all
hatho together in Adamic simplicity.
saw Mt one time nine women aud ten men
in tho bath.
About 80 steps away from this place Is
swent 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 1t similar to an old fashion
ed sweet potato house that southarners
build to keep their potatoes from freezing
in the winter. The door is about 3 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 n cent each and six per.
sons were admitted to the sweat bath at
once. just over the entrance stands M
image of Buddha. with rico cakes. flower,
and incense offerings. The people worship
ed rs they went In, while an old priest
stood by telling the people that whosoevei
hathed in faith should be cured of all NAL
aides The lame and crippled flocket
around and listened with cageruess. Tn,
priest said that Buddha sent down his nm
gel. who met an ancient priest and tolt
him that he would write the name Of Bud
tha ON stone and cover il with the eartl
and cause the mountains to gush out viii
hot water and flow over the name of Bud
,lha for the healing of all diseased heliev
cre.
This said the priest. sis the plac,
prepared by the great gods, and il yot
would be healed enter in and hath"h /
was amazing TO notice the deluded mel
aud women. in companies Of six. 20 int
the hath and stay until almost dead frusi
suirocation and como ont dripping Will
perspiration and covered with straw. |
seems that stream from the Boiling SCI
runs under the excavation. and inside i
thrown lot OF straw on which these mel
and women spread themselves and sta
until they fairly roast themselves alive
From this place they 40 90 hot Shove
bath. which consists of several large ham
boo poles placed in waterfall from tn
hot sea. which fell about 10 feet upon tn
bodies Of the saints just from the swea
bath. From the shower bath they 20 t
the fountain bath. where the course
completed The entire process often take
several hours and is gone through with
out clothing or towels Of any kind. Thi
keeps the streets alive with men and won
en- walking here and there as naked rs the
were born into the world.
Another popularity Of this strange pee
pie is the way they cook aud eat. Every
thing they do has some religious supersti
ton connected with il, aud their cookin
aud eating are not an exception, lam SAT
in saying that no people on earth COO
like tho people who live at the Seven Hell
on the island Of kiushiu, in the marvel
Gus little nation OF Japan. They have al
ranged TO run the water from the Boilin
sea in small streams, about foot undo
the surface of the earth, right in front {
every mans door. Over these streams M
mud ovens built like pot. with lid owe
some of them. In their ovens the peopl
place whatever they want TO cook, aud th
steam from the hot water does the worl
This is certainly better than natural gas
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