60 
HOT BATHS. 
cency with which the Mahomedans behave, and the peculiar dexterity 
which they seem to have acquired, that in taking olF their clothes to 
put on the bathing linen they may not expose themselves indecently. 
This feeling appears by many passages to be much encouraged in Scrip¬ 
ture, where a forced exposure is represented as the last indignity and 
suffering, and a voluntary exposure as an act of great turpitude. It is 
not necessary to refer particularly to any passages; but it may be added 
that the expression of the feeling is not confined to Scripture: Hero¬ 
dotus, for instance, remarks * the sense of shame which the Lydians 
felt at being seen naked. Is this sense of shame a memorial of the 
fall of our first parents ? 
The baths, as well as the modes of bathing, which have so often been 
described by travellers, are nearly the same in Persia as in Turkey. The 
principal difference is, that in the Persian baths there is a basin in the 
interior chamber, of hot water, called the Khazineh (Treasury), into 
which the bathers descend, after having gone through all the different 
ceremonies of hand rubbing, cracking of joints, and friction with a 
camlet bag. Here they remain as long as they can bear the heat, 
then call for fresh towels, and issue out into the exterior dressing-room,- 
where those who can afford such luxuries have their carpet spread, 
their clothes in readiness, and their servants ready to assist in putting 
them on. 
' The Persians were curious in inspecting our dress. One of our party 
wore a wig, a commodity totally unknown in Persia. It is impossible 
to describe the extreme and amusing astonishment which the surround¬ 
ing spectators exhibited upon seeing this gentleman, at one pull, take 
off the whole hair of his head, and walk off totally unconcerned. 
I omit describing our visits to the Prince, and the principal men of 
Shiraz, as well as the numerous entertainments which were given to the 
Ambassador, because it would almost be a repetition of what I have 
before related ; but the visit which the Ambassadress paid to the 
Prince’s mother is worthy of notice. This lady is mother to two of 
the King’s favourite sons, Hassan Ali and Hossein Ali, the one Go- 
* Clio, X. 
