118 HOT WELLS OF BATU. 



have no doubt, to the comparative coolness of their 

 nights that these mountain plains owe their salu- 

 brity. As far as my experience goes, it matters little 

 to what heat the human frame is exposed during 

 the day if it be refreshed by coolness at night. 



Nov. 24. — At a quarter to seven o'clock we set 

 out on horseback up the valley towards the ridge of 

 grassy hills on the west of us. After riding about 

 two miles we turned off to the left to visit a hot 

 spring. This was in a small hollow valley, the 

 scenery of which reminded me very much of parts 

 of North Wales ; green sharp-topped hills rose all 

 round it, bare of trees except a scattered clump 

 here and there, and a few cottages, looking like 

 small farmsteads, were dispersed about. Round 

 the springs were a few half-ruined buildings of 

 hewn stone, evidently ancient ; one of them had 

 been a small shrine or temple, and there were pave- 

 ments looking like the floors of others which had 

 disappeared. The springs were conducted into 

 baths of masonry, with stone steps of ancient and 

 excellent workmanship, but they were now covered 

 with bamboo houses. A venerable looking old man, 

 with a white beard (a thing very uncommon among 

 the Javanese), had charge of them, being probably a 

 priest. The temperature of the springs was 108° 

 Fahrenheit. Their taste was strongly saline, not 

 unlike Epsom salts. They were situated on a little 

 mound, which seemed to be composed of travertine, 

 that was still forming on the outer slope, and en- 



