222 
devil. This is not surprising, when 
we consider the irresistible inclination 
that most men have for the marvellous, 
connected with superstitious ideas, 
suggested by education. and fortified 
by habit. Under this predicament, 
the most extravagant and absurd fic- 
tions take the shape of the clearest 
facts. This is generally the case with 
the people of Tinos: from their ear- 
liest infancy they have heard talk of 
Satan, who they have been given to 
understand takes almost as great a 
part in the affairs of this world as God 
himself; and, in fact, that God makes 
use of him as the executioner of his 
wrath. 
Hence these prejudices enter into the 
treatment of diseases; and in some 
cases a physician would be driven 
out of the house, should he dare to 
make his appearance: in his place, a 
priest is sent for, who attends with a 
great book, out of which he reads a 
number of prayers; and, resting the 
book upon the head of the sick per- 
son, conjures the devil to come out of 
him. These exorcising priests enjoy 
various degrees of reputation: those 
who are so fortunate as to be called 
in just at the crisis or turn of a disease, 
of course rank higher than others, and 
are better paid. 
As they bury their dead in the prin- 
¢ipal village churches, it sometimes 
happens that an argillaceous and dry 
earth found in the ground retards the 
putrefaction of the bodies by absorb- 
ing their humidity. When this is 
perceived, upon opening the tombs 
for afresh burial, the bodies are taken 
up; but, as soon as the heart is taken 
out and burnt, they are replaced as be- 
fore,—the relatives being then per- 
suaded that nothing can retard the 
process of decomposition. 
A case of this kind, however, never 
occurs without causing great vexation 
to the family of the deceased; as the 
former persuade themselves that he is 
rejected both by heaven and hell, and 
hence itis that the earth refuses an 
asylum to his remains. Marvellous 
stories are sure to follow a circum- 
stance of this kind. One has seen the 
deceased in the night; another at 
noon-day ; a third has been awakened 
by him at midnight; and a fourth has 
heard his chains rattle. These ru- 
mours, little or nothing at first, are at 
length received as indubitable truth ; 
and the simple people believe that, to 
expiate his sins, the dead appears to 
Actual State of the Greck Islands. 
[Oct. 1, 
frighten the living: that he pulls some 
by the toes whilst in their beds, and 
runs away with victuals; and is often 
seen going through thorns, hedges, and 
bushes, in the shape of a dog, or some 
other animal. Instead of opposing 
these errors, the priests encourage 
them, by ordering the families to repeat 
a requiem and an ave every day, for 
the repose of these perturbed spirits. 
They are also enjoined to be very care- 
ful in shutting up all the apartments 
every night, and put a cross of wax 
upon each of the doors; besides paying 
for masses, &c. 
Lovers however, who it seems are 
not so superstitious as the rest, avail 
themselves of this universal panic to 
forward their nocturnal meetings. 
When they appear in the villages, ke, 
dragging chains after them, every one 
not in the secret shuns their approach; 
besides, the houses being closely shut, 
according to the priests’ orders, these 
fleshy phantoms easily mount the ter- 
races, or slip in at the windows, to 
meet their partners,—who on these oc- 
casions are actuated by a passion very 
different from fear. 
This kind of superstition is not pecu- 
liar to Tinos, but is common to all the 
islands of the Levant; where the peo- 
ple firmly believe in spectres and phan- 
toms, which they distinguish by vari- 
ous denominations. 
—_ 
For the Monthly Magazine. 
PUBLIC BATHS in the EAST. 
(From the Revue Encyclopedique.) 
HE high value which the eastern 
nations attach to their baths, and 
the care with which they attend to 
their construction and embellishment, 
are weli known. ‘lo these they con- 
sider themselves as indebted for one 
of the most elegant accommodations 
which improved and polished life 
affords. The attention of both sexes, 
respectively, is turned to them, as ad-. 
ministering a source of gratification, 
and especially after intervals of toil 
and labour, either bodily or mental. 
They are not merely subservient to 
ease and luxury ; but, from the pecu- 
liar circumstances of burning climates, 
—where nature sickens, and where 
water and coolness are the common 
wants,—the use and effects of them are 
indispensable. ‘ 
For the furtherance of this pleasure, 
the more opulent have marbles in 
abundance, in all their baths, and rich 
basins 
