BATHS OF TIFLIS. 
121 
without creating the least alarm or astonishment at our audacity ;) 
we passed into the place whence they had just emerged from the 
water. Here we found a vast cavern-]ike chamber, gloomily 
lighted, and smelling most potently of sulphuric evaporations, 
which ascended from nearly twenty deep excavations. Through 
these filmy vapours, wreathing like smoke over the surface of 
a boiling cauldron, we could distinguish the figures of women, 
in every posture, perhaps, which the fancy of man could devise 
for the sculpture of bathing goddesses. But, I confess, we were 
as much shocked as surprised, at the unblushing coolness with 
which the Georgian Venuses continued their ablutions, after they 
had observed our entrance; they seemed to have as little 
modest covering on their minds, as on their bodies ; and the 
whole scene became so unpleasant, that, declining our con¬ 
ductress’s offer to show us farther, we made good our retreat, 
fully satisfied with the extent of our gratified curiosity. 
Persons who bathe for health do not remain longer than a 
few minutes, or whatever time may be prescribed, in the water; 
but when the bath is taken for pleasure, these people are so 
fond of it, that, like the Turks in the case of opium, they pro¬ 
long its application to such an extent, as ultimately to be equally 
injurious to their strength and personal appearance, Some pass 
many hours every day in this debilitating atmosphere, inde¬ 
pendent of one whole day in each week; great part of which, 
however, is spared from the water, to be spent in making up 
their faces, blackening the hair, eye-brows, and eyed ashes, so as 
to render only occasional repairs necessary during the ensuing 
week. Thus occupied in the vaulted room, these Eastern 
goddesses, growing in renewed beauty under the hands of 
their attendant graces, meet each other in social conference; 
VOL. i. 
R 
