348 BATHS AT MYANOOSHTA, 



speedily at hand, and spread upon the floor, covered 

 with snow-white sheets, and a curious-looking tall 

 paper lantern placed at the head. This completed the 

 arrangement for the night, and I soon fell into a sound 

 sleep. But before long I was disturbed by a gnawing 

 noise : a rat was stealing the candle I had foolishly 

 extinguished instead of letting it burn out, and there 

 was nothing for it but to wait patiently until the 

 animal had completed its repast, having no match to 

 re-light the candle. On opening the sliding screens in 

 the early morning, I was delighted with the beautiful 

 view from my verandah, which overhung a garden laid 

 out in the usual fashion (Plate XXVI.), — miniature 

 canals, bridges, kiosks, a fish-pond in the centre 

 well stocked with trout and gold-fish ; a mill 

 leaning against the wall, and beyond, woods and 

 hills covered with ripe gi^ain as far as the eye 

 could reach, while a mass of wild camellise and 

 golden and crimson azaleae spread over the nearest 

 slopes adjoining the garden, thus completing a most 

 (^harming picture. Along the corridor and down a few 

 steps took me to the baths, partitioned ofi" into com- 

 partments of about six feet square, which were just 

 being refilled direct from the hot spring. I soon 

 jumped into one of these, which all but scalded me, 

 and before I had finished my dip, several native gentle- 



