The boy travellers in the Far East : adventures of two youths ... - Library

202
THE BOY TRAVELLERS.
spi'iiigs, and the water was gathered in pools, which liad a very inviting
appearance and increased the desire of our friends to try them. Tliey
went into one of the small rooms pi'ovided for the purpose, removed their
clothing, and then plunged in simultaneously. They came out instantly,
and without any request to do so by the Doctor, who stood laughing at
the edge of the pool. For their skins the water was almost scalding-hot,
though it was far otherwise to the Japanese. The Japanese are very fond
(if hot baths, and will bathe in water of a temperature so high that a for-
eigner cannot endure it except after long practice. The baths here in the
mountains were just suited to the native taste ; and Frank said they would
be suited to his taste as well if they could have a few blocks of ice thrown
into them.
A JAPANESE BATH.
Public and private batlis are probably more numerous in Japan than
in any other country. The qualities of most of the natural sources are
well known, and thousands flock to them every year to be cured of real
or imaginary maladies. The country contains a great number of these
springs ; and, since the ari-ival of foreigners, and a careful aiuilysis of the
waters, certain ]3roperties have been discovered that were not known be-
fore. In some cases the curative powers of the Japanese spi'ings are re-
markable, and it has been predicted that patients will one day come t(.i
Japan from distant lands to be healed.
The Lake of Ilakone is a beautiful sheet of water, not unlike Lake