Dr. Wurre's Description of a Jdtré near Stirat. 377 
moral blame, if not cruelty, might attach to any serious design of unveiling 
a deception which is accompanied with nothing positively vicious, while, on 
the contrary, it proves an abundant source of joy and festive recreation to a 
numerous and industrious population ; inspiring, at the same time, the pious 
devotee with the happy hope of a felicity beyond the grave. Had such 
always been the harmless exhibitions of priestcraft, the philosophical poet 
would never have had occasion to exclaimn— 
“Tantum religio potuit suadere malorum.” 
With every sentiment of human charity, the writer may be allowed to 
state from his own experience, that he found the water indicating at the 
supposed crisis of the miracle a somewhat greater, in place of a less tempe- 
rature, on the day of the full moon than during the two preceding days. 
This, however, might have depended on the heat of the atmosphere being 
greater that day, and of course absorbing less caloric from the pool. Had 
it been otherwise, the fact would be easily explicable from the circum- 
stances occurring at the baths, which must have considerable influence in 
modifying the heat; for at certain times hundreds of men, women, and 
children throw up the water with their hands and pots, scattering it in every 
direction, and the refrigerating effect is accountable for on well-known 
principles. 
It is also clear, that as the water is by many degrees hotter than the 
human body, and as the spring is not rapid, that the crowded and successive 
immersion of so many people acts as a powerful refrigerant, and speedily 
must bring down the temperature to the mean proportion betwixt the 
maximum above stated and the heat of the human blood, which in the healthy 
subject never exceeds 98° of Fahrenheit. 
For the convenience of future travellers actuated by similar curiosity, 
it may be observed, that by halting at Veval, in a small garden belonging to 
the Paicl, where there is a palm-thatched cottage, and plenty of shade on 
the outside of’ it for their cattle and followers, they will enjoy equally all 
the pleasure and variety of the Jdtra, free from the annoyance of the 
crowds, dust, and noise. The moderate ride of half an hour from thence 
furnishes an agreeable recreation in the morning and evening, and will be 
amply sufficient for satisfying their wishes, in all the particulars connected 
with the simple ceremonies above described. 
pe 2 Nore. 
