Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1808 edition. Excerpt: ...in which they wash themselves after coming ont of the large bath. Men are not allowed to approach these baths; but we had entered the town as conquerors, and inter arma silent leget. The walls are all ornamented with fresco paintings of flowers., In the centre-room of the baths made us% of by the m&t, there is a large tub, and six smaller ones, in the six surrounding stitches. The Turks bathe in the following manner, as I had an Opportunity of learning from my own observation: the person who wishes to bathe, undresses in the antichamber, which is moderately heated, and is from thence led into a warmer room, where he waits for the bath-man, who wears a large glove covered With wool, or soft kind of hair, with which he rubs the body of the bather w ith gradually increasing violence, and make his joints crack. The bath-man then washes his body with luke-warrn Water, and laying him on a bed on the floor, bends his back backwards and forwards, then sits on the back of the persons who bathes, and slides down to his feet; and by incessantly rubbing his body, he excites an agreeable sensation which is impossible to describe. After this process, the bather is lapped up like a mummy in a large piece of linen, and is led into a warmer chamber, where is body is rubbed with fragrant oils. After this function is over, he puts on a nighf-gown and slippers, and goes into another room, where he takes coffee, and sits until he is cool enough to return to the antichamber where he had left his cloatbs. I once took a bath of this kind, and paid about eight shillings English fbr it. Of all the mosques which are in this town, there are but two which are deserving of any notice. That in the city is built of stone, and has a high narrow tower a few steps...
