98 SPORT AND TRAVEL 



land of never-failing interest. I was almost glad of 

 the illness which had brought me down there. The 

 journey was a long one, five days from Calcutta 

 to Ceylon, three weeks more to Sydney, and a final 

 four days to Auckland, whence the railroad led to 

 Rotorua in the hot spring country. 



If after the long lazy sea- voyage anything re- 

 mained necessary for my complete recovery, a few 

 weeks in the clear and bracing atmosphere of New 

 Zealand quickly accomplished it. Nor did I have to 

 number myself among the many invalids who come 

 to the hot-spring region for the wonderful curative 

 powers of its mineral baths, for Rotorua is famous 

 for its healing springs, and baths of water, mud, and 

 vapor. If you are afflicted with gout or rheumatism, 

 you will spend most of your time in the well-known 

 " Priest's Water " ; or if something is to be desired 

 in the smoothness of your skin or the loveliness of 

 your complexion, the " Rachel" bath, according to 

 tradition, will make you beautiful forever. But so 

 far as combined benefit and enjoyment go, you will 

 find more absolute pleasure by passing all your 

 available moments in the big, hot sulphur swim- 

 ming-pool, where you can float lazily, for hours at a 

 time, in water above one hundred degrees Fahren- 

 heit, and leave it feeling as vigorous and energetic 

 as though newly wakened from a refreshing sleep. 



