EST H ONI AN BATHS, 3^1 



When the face and the whole body is in a perfect 

 glow, and all is full of heat, they either pour cold 

 water on themfelves, or jump into the river adjoining ; 

 or, if it be winter, roll themfelves about in the fnow 

 before the bathing-houfe door. However, in this par- 

 ticular the Efthonian is far excelled by the Ruffian, 

 Among the latter not only the common people do this, 

 but alfo perfons of quality, and thofe of far more de- 

 licate manners otherwife. Thus I have frequently feen 

 Ruffian officers go from a dancing room into the yard, 

 to cool the boiling fiomach, as they phrafe it, by the 

 application of fnow within the bofom of their fhirt. — 

 Of the fudden tranlition from a glowing heat into in- 

 tenfe cold, a common foldier, in his language, ex- 

 preffes himfelf thus : " It ftrengthens the heart !" 



Great as the refemblance is between all the bathing- 

 rooms in effentials, yet there is a wide, difference be- 

 tween thofe of the poor Efthonian peafants and fuch as 

 are appropriated to the ufe of their feudal lords. Thofe 

 of the vaffals are extremely miferable and dirty. They, 

 no more than their dwellings, have any regular win- 

 dows. A fmall hole in the wall, of a foot fquare, 

 generally fupplies their place. Nor is this always pro- 

 vided with glafs. It is for the moft part ftuffed with 

 a wifp of ftraw, in fome degree to prevent the too great 

 draft of the outward cold. An eternal night moft com- 

 monly reigns within. The bath-benches are not always 

 parted off for each individual; but the bathers lie 

 clofe together, and under one another, both fexes and 

 all ages. Modefry and decency come into little or no 

 confideration here : they are not violated ; they are n®t 

 thought of. 



The 



