Year: 1861

AN ORIENTAL ABLUTION.
An Experience In the Turkish Bath.
An article in the March number of the
CornhM Magazine describes the baths Of
Turkey. We extract the following descrip
ton of the sensations of bather:
ENTERING THE BATH.


"On entering the bath, the first apart
ment consists of a spacious hall, or rotunda,
the central summit of which is open. admit
ting gentle but free circulation Of air, and
is in form not unlike the cupola of St. Steph-
ems Walbrook. Running round by the
wall is raised dais or platform. covered
with carpet, and divided into compart-
ments, one of which is appropriated to each
visitor. In the centre of the building is a
fountain, which plays refreshingly into a
marble basin, raised on pedestal of mason
ry. On couch. on the platform above
mentioned, you undress your clothing is
tied up in napkin, and you are attred in
three scarfs oftoweling. of peculiar fabric.
warm and rough, but yet soft. and gaily
bordered with blue or red raw silk one of
these, the subligar or suLligacnlun, of the
Romans, girds the loins another is thrown
over the shoulders. and the last is twisted
up into turban for the head. Throughout
this operation every care is taken to preserve
decorum and with scrupulousness and
delicacy almost unknown, we regret to add,
to Europeans Two attendants hold cloth
before you until you have undressed and
properly adjusted the bathing attire; you
then are furnished with wooden pattens. and
quit the undressing room (apodyteriuna) for
the heated chambers: the two attendants.
walking behind. still accompany you. and
as you are on pattens, each holds you by
the arm"


BEGINNING OF THE BATH.


THE swinging doors give access to a
narrow passage where the heat strikes upon
the face. and announces very sensibly that
the bath has begun. This passage makes
a sudden turn at right angle, and the heat
then increases, though the temperature is
still not high, and the mist of vapor is very
slight if at all perceptible You now enter
the tepid chamber, the tepidariune of the
ancients. Sometimes the passage above
alluded to is dispensed with, and the tepi-
darium itself forms the junction between
the two halls. In the latter case it is OBJ
long in form, and has marble platform on
each side, raised about foot and half
above the central part; this serving as
passage, is of course on the same level as
the two chambers when it connects; but
whether as passage. or as hall in itself,
it is all paved with marble The mattress
and cushion which arc carried before you
are laid upon the dais and against the wall;
the paraphernalia of other guests being SINH
larly disposed all round Coffee and pipes
are now brought. In this apartment, dim
ly lighted, day sometimes being quite ex-
cluded, Pickering lamp reveals uncertain
ly the nature Of the place and its occupants.
The perspiration gently starts from its my
riad ducts, whilst the solemn murky air
tranquilizes the spirit and seems to exclude
with lull of calmness thoughts Of the fret
full world. tits here that stranger in town
or village first mingles with the inhabitants,
and glides imperceptibly. and divcsted of
the adventitious aids of dress and attendance,
into the niche which his social status quail
6es him to occupy. A gentle foretaste of
shampoening is given in this apartment an
attendant chafes the feet, or lightly taps the
neck and the limbs to start the perspiration.
When it has fully broken out. you are ready
for the hot chamber (coleloriuna or laconium)
which you now enter"


THE HOT CHAMBER.


This is somewhat similar in form to the
first hall, and is generally covered in with
a dome. the light being admitted through
loopholes filled with stained glass. Early
in the morning the place is quite clear and
the atmosphere is dry. but as the washing
takes place here. it becomes at later hour
Of the day filed with vapor; this has lead
many to imagine that the Turkish bath is
like the Russian. essentially vapor bath
which is not the case. The Turkish bath
is in principle, and in fact, hot air bath
the vapor being almost an accident. Here
the towels are all removed. except that which
encircles the loins. Addition is then per-
formed, to which the sounds of clanking
bowls and dropping water duly correspond