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gloom and sulphurous vapours, to have
transformed these figures into demons or
tormentors of the inquisition ; and the
horrid j^ells of the douchers, in the neighbouring
cells, to call the porters, might
have confirmed the belief. On approaching
the flight of steps, where I was to descend
to take the douche, I drew back my
foot, as I could not see where to set it
down. This they attributed to fear, and
cried out, “ N’ayez pas peur ; soyez tranquille
; nous vous ménagerons doucement
comme un enfant gâté.” They then brought
me under one of the streams of water that
issue from near the top of the cell, and
told me to extend my hands, in order to
break the column of water, and distribute
it gradually over my body, as it would be
too painful and scalding if received at first
in one stream. When 1 had stood under
the water a little time I became accustomed
to the heat : I then sat down, and
the process of douching commenced. The
water is made to pass through long jointed
tin tubes, which are fixed on the two apertures
where the streams enter. Each
doucher takes one of these tubes, which
they direct to different parts of the body,
with one hand, while the other hand is
employed in rubbing the part on which
the water falls. The first morning the
douching only lasted five minutes, but the
time was increased each succeeding morning,
till I was able to bear the operation
for twenty minutes or half an hour. When
the douching was finished, the douchers
set up the most horrid yell I ever heard,
as a signal for the porters to enter, to whose
care I was then consigned. They immediately
enfolded my arms and body in a
linen sheet, without drying the skin; over
this they put a thick woollen wrapper, or
blanket, tying up my feet; and, lastly,
they bound my head round with a napkin.
Thus equipped, you are precisely in the
costume in which the ancients used to bury
the dead, as may be seen in the pictures
of the raising of Lazarus. You are then
placed in one of the chairs above described,
and the porters run with you through
the streets, and up the stairs into your
bed-room. This is the most terrific part
of the ceremony : the stairs are generally
very steep and narrow, and, as the porters
ascend with great swiftness, it is difficult to
preserve a balance. Should you fall, you