London . P u b lish 'd a s the A/fb J.inoto. tf^ J lp r il I& O ii. by <L JTtw 'rnan ff l? ,2 2 P o u ltry ■
toms o f the Fins, was their baths, and manner o f bathing. A l-
moft all the Finniih peafants have a fmall houfe built on purpofe
for a bath : it confiils o f only one fmall chamber, in the inner-
moil part o f which are placed a number o f ilones, which are
heated by fire till they become red. On thefe ilones, thus heated,
water is thrown, until the company within be involved in a
thick cloud o f vapour. In this innermoil part, the chamber is
formed into two ilories for the accommodation o f a greater number
o f perfons within that fmall compafs; and it being the nature
C>f heat and vapour to afcend, the fecond ilory is, o f courfe, the
hotteil. Men and women ufe the bath promifcuoufly, without
any concealment o f dreis, or being in the leail influenced
by any emotions o f attachment. If, however, a ilranger open the
door, and come on the bathers by furpriie, the women are not a
little ilartled at his appearance; for, befides his perfon, he introduces
along with him, by opening the door, a great quantity o f
light, which difcovers at once to the view their fituation, as well
as forms. Withou t fuch an accident they remain, i f not in total
darkneis, yet in great oblcurity, as there is no other window be-
fides a fmall hole, nor any light but what enters in from lome
chink in the roof o f the houfe, or the crevices between the pieces
o f wood o f which it is conilrudled. 1 often amuied myfelf w ith
furpriling the bathers in this manner, and I once or twice tried to
go in and join the afliembly; but the heat was fo exceflive that I
could not breathe, and in the Ipace o f a minute at moil, I verily
believe, muil have been iuffocated. I fometimes ilepped in for
V o l . I. Q q a moment,