Part 1. Travels intq the LjEy ant. 51 
CHAP. XXIIL 
Of Baths or Bagnios 
TH E Turks make great ufe of Bathing, both for keeping their bodies 
neat and clean, and for their healths fake : For that purpofe, they have 
many fair Bagnios in their Towns ; and the forrieft Village that is, has at leafl; Bignios. 
a Bagnio ; they are all made after the fame fafliion, and there is no difference, 
but; that fome are bigger, and more adorned with marble than others. I'll 
defcribe that which is at Tophana^ near to a fair Mofque, as being one of the 
lovelieft that I have feen. You enter into a large fquare Hall, about twenty ADefcripti- 
paces in length, and of a very high roof; all round this Hall there are o" of i^^S^'o^ 
Itahez,-, or benches of ftone againft the wall, above a fathom broad, and half MaMn- 
as high, which are all covered with mats ; fo foon as you come, they fpread 
you out a large napkin (which they call Foma) upon the faid behches, where Fouu. ^ 
you fit down, and lay your cloaths after you have ftript : In the middle of 
this Hall, there is a great Fountain, with a large Bafon of marble, for wafli- 
ing the Linnen that hath been ufed ; and when they are wafhed, they are hung 
up todry upon poles which are on high, all round the Hall, When you have ' ^ 
fate down upon the napkin which they have fpread for you, they bring you 
another to put before you, which you tie over your fliirt, before you pull it 
- off, Cleft you Ihould fhow what ought not to be feen, which would be a great 
cririie) that covers yon behind and before, from the girdle down to the knees : 
Having pull'd oiF your fhirt, you put it with your cloaths in the napkin you 
late upon, leaving them there without fear that any body will touch them,, 
for the Bagnios are places of liberty and fecurity, as though they were facred, 
and there is no cheat ever committed in them ; for if any were, the Mafter of 
the Bagnio would be obliged to make good what was loft or embeziled. After 
you are ftript, you enter by a little door into a fmall room, fomewhat hot ; 
and from thence, by another door, into the great Hall, which is very hot- 
All thefe Halls are made with Domes, having little glafs windows to let in the 
light. This great hot Hall is of a Pentagone figure, each fide being fuppor- 
ted by two Pillars of white marble; on each fide there is a marble edging or 
rifing, about half a foot high ; and in the middle of that, in the floor, about 
two foot from the wall, there is a little Bafon of white marble, two foot 
broad, and over it a cock of warm water ; and a hands breadth above this 
cock, another cock, for cold water, fo that you mingle them as you pleafe ; 
then you take large copper Cups (which are alwaies ready for that ufc) and 
with them throw upon yourfelf as much water as you have a mind. In this 
Hall alfo, there is a large ftone-Fat full of hot water, whereinto you may go if 
you pleafe ; but that is not fafe, becaufe a great many Rogues, who have lève- 
rai difeafes, go into it, though the water be often changed ; but if you be 
fure that no body has as yet been in it, you may wafli yourfelf there. So foon 
as you enter into that great Hall, you fit down upon the flat floor, which is all 
of marble, heated by Furnaces underneath ; then comes a Servant ftark naked, 
except thofe parts which modefty requires to be covered, ( the Servants of the 
Bagnio are always fo, that they may, be in readinefs to wait upon thofe that 
come) and making you lye out at length upon your back, he puts his knees 
upon your belly and breaft,and embracing you very ftreight,makes all the bones 
of your body, arms and legs, crack again, to ftretch and foften the finews ; 
then laying you upon your belly, he does the like on your back, treading upon 
it, fo that he often makes you kifs the ground j after that, having lhaved your 
chin, and under the arm-pits, he gives you a rafor to fliave yourfelf every 
where elfe ; and you go into one of the little chambers, that are made in the 
intervals betwixt the fides,and being there, you take off your napkin and hang 
it upon the door, that fo every one that fees it may know there is fome body 
within^ 
