THROUGH FINLAND. 
297 - 
toms of the Fins, was their baths, and manner of bathing. Al- 
moft all the Finnifh peafants have a fmall houfe built on purpofe 
for a bath: it confiRs of only one fmall chamber, in the inner- 
moll: part of which are placed a number of Rones, w hich are 
heated by fire till they become red. On thefe Rones, thus heat¬ 
ed, water is throw'n, until the company within be involved in a 
thick cloud of vapour. In this innermoR part, the chamber is 
formed into two Rories for the accommodation of a greater num¬ 
ber of perfons within that fmall compafs ; and it being the nature 
of heat and vapour to afcend, the fecond Rory is, of courfe, the 
hotteR. Men and women ufe the bath promifcuoufly, with¬ 
out any concealment of drefs, or being in the leaR influenced 
by any emotions of attachment. If, however, a Rranger open the 
door, and come on the bathers by furprife, the women are not a 
little Rartled at his appearance; for, befides his perfon, he intro¬ 
duces along with him, by opening the door, a great quantity of 
light, which difcovers at once to the view their fituation, as well 
as forms. Without fuch an accident they remain, if not in total 
darknefs, yet in great obfcurity, as there is no other wdndow be¬ 
fides a fmall hole, nor any light but what enters in from fome 
chink in the roof of the houfe, or the crevices between the pieces 
of wood of which it is conflrudted. I often amufed mylelf with 
furprifing the bathers in this manner, and I once or twice tried to 
go in and join the aflembly; but the heat w r as fo exceflive that I 
could not breathe, and in the fpace of a minute at moR, I verily 
believe, muR have been fuffocated. I fometimes Repped in for 
Vol. I. Q q a moment. 
