258 
REYKHOLT. 
next the lowest side of the hill, the water after 
being used, is suffered to run off and the place 
is again fit for the reception of other bathers* 
In the time of Snorro Sturleson, no doubt, this 
bath was frequented by the healthy for the sake 
of cleanliness and luxury, as well as by the sick, 
for the cure of various complaints; but now it is 
scarcely ever used except for the purpose of 
washing clothes or of bending wood and hoops 
for casks, and we consequently found it in a 
most filthy condition. The Sweating house as 
it is called, situated about a mile from this bath, 
* The following mode of heating rooms in use among the 
Icelanders, as related by Arngrim Jonas, may well be con¬ 
sidered as a vapor-bath, and deserves to be noticed here. 
Speaking of the turf for burning, Arngrim Jonas says, 
“ Quanquam igitur judicarit Plinius miseras gentes, quse 
terram suam urerent: rios contra eo nos feliciores du¬ 
ff cimus j Deique beneficium hie et alibi agnoscimus, quibus 
te fomes igniarius et cremandi materia non magno constet; 
ff qua re ad frigoris intemperiem arcendam, praeter alios 
ff usus satis notos, incolae summe indigebant; praesertim 
ff hyemalibus temporibus, quibus hypocausta et fornaces in 
ff usu, saxo et petris congestae, per quas flamma facile erum- 
“peretj quae quamprimum ignis vi penitus essent excal- 
ff factae, cumque jam defumasset hypocaustum, frigida ca¬ 
ff mini saxis candentibus aspergebatur j quo pacto calor sese 
“ per universam domum efficaciter diffundere solet; qui sic 
etiam pariete et tecto caespititio optime conservatur. Me- 
mini autem, me balnea publica excalfaciendi similem ra- 
“ tionem apud extraneos alicubi observare.”—A curious ac¬ 
count of this manner of bathing may be seen in Acerbi's 
