2 A TORRID INCIDENT IN A TEMPBRATE ZONE. 



quarters when we were informed that "if any one thought proper he 

 might try the next room." I, dying with heat, eagerly availed myself of 

 the offer, fondly thinking to gain a cooler atmosphere, followed my man 

 into the next room ; when, to my dismay, I found it hotter than the one I 

 had just left. The breath of the dreadful simoom would be a refreshing 

 breeze compared to the hot blast I met as I entered. It was going out of 

 the frying-pan into the fire. In a few minutes the same evil genius 

 brought us cold water to drink ; at the same time he invoked by its aid the 

 spirit of perspiration to fall upon us; and I am bound to confess that some 

 hundred millions of my pores opened freely under the spell. It seemed as 

 though the solid flesh would melt, and leave us sitting in our bones. One 

 of the gentle sufferers happening to ask the attendant what countryman he 

 was, I ventured even at that miserable juncture to risk a pun, and 

 suggested "that very likely he was a Hotterman (Ottoman);" but as 

 nobody laughed, it only augmented my misery. After having had my 

 limbs pulled and jerked like a Negro at a slave mart, I was ordered out 

 (by this time thoroughly subdued) and laid upon a marble slab. Here I 

 was thumped, soaped, and lathered, until my flesh became of a roseate 

 hue, like a little child's, and I was pharisaically clean. It only remains to 

 be told how, whilst standing in a corner, .sadly ruminating, suddenly 

 several hundreds of tiny jets of cold water were concentrated wpou my 

 poor body, effectually closing the millions of pores so lately opened. I 

 was then rubbed down after the manner of juvenile darlings who have 

 just experienced the Saturday's periodical wash-tub; then, arrayed in a 

 slight fancy overcoat or dressing gown, I found myself stretched upon one 

 of the before-mentioned couches, confessing to myself that we are indeed 

 fearfully and wonderfullj- made, considering the number of violent changes 

 a man is able to undergo and yet live. At the same time I determined to 

 confine my aquatic sports to a short swim and a cool header. Gentle 

 reader, if you be a man of delicate organization, or have a constitutional 

 tendency to apoplexy, or a large head and short neck, then beware of the 

 Turkish Bath. Believe the faithful testimony of one who was compelled 

 to perspire as freely as the Arabian trees give forth their medicinal gums; 

 and being now clothed and safely reduced to his normal temperature, out 

 of a pure love to humanity leaves this writing upon record. 



G. W. 



