VILLAGE OF HATTA. 351 



several groups of soldiers returning to their duty in 

 the capital, and what struck me as strange was that 

 their muskets, swords, and accoutrements were being 

 carried by coolies. We now began to descend, and 

 soon approached a fine large sheet of water which 

 proved to be the principal lake, there being smaller 

 ones on either side. They were completely enclosed 

 by hills, and the remains of an old temple, with an 

 enormous bronze figure of Buddha, stood at the very 

 edge of the water ; an avenue of cypress and cedar trees 

 fringing the southern side of the larger lake until it 

 reached the village of Hatta, a pretty spot at the 

 foot of a hill, celebrated for its hot sulphur-spring. 

 Here more tea-houses and more bathing establish- 

 ments, and joyous laughter ringing through the air 

 from all quarters. I was told that this was the 

 fashionable season, and that the place was honoured 

 with the presence of princes, as well as less exalted 

 visitors, who come here from far and near. I had 

 some difficulty in obtaining access to one of the best 

 tea-houses, the proprietor being afraid of giving 

 umbrage to her ordinary clients by admitting a bar- 

 barian ; however, my interpreter soon overruled her 

 objection, and, once admitted, every one treated me 

 with the greatest civility, and I spent several hours 

 lounging full length on the matted verandah of my 



