visiters, and on the fourth, the passage from the outer porch to the
hall, and from this to the inner bath. At the angles of these raised
recesses, and dividing their lower roof, which they supported, from
the higher one of the central square, were, four good marble pillars,
with spirally fluted shafts, and moulded capitals, perfectly uniform
in size and design, and producing the best effect. In the centre of
the square space, which these marked out, and on a lower floor, was a
large marble cistern of cold water; and at each end of this, on wooden
stands, like those used in our arbours and breakfast rooms, were
arranged coloured glass jars, with flowers of various kinds in them,
well watered and perfectly fresh.

"The walls of this outer hall were ornamented all around by designs of
trees, birds, and beasts, in fanciful forms, executed in white upon a
blue ground. We undressed here, and were led from hence into the inner
bath, where all was still free from everything offensive, either to
the sight or smell. This inner room was originally an oblong space
of about fifty feet by twenty-five, but had been since made into two
square divisions. The first, or outer one, was a plain paved hall,
exactly like the undressing-room, except that it had no side recesses,
but its floor was level, close to the walls. There were here also four
pillars; and in the square space which they enclosed in the centre of
the room, was a cistern of water as in the outer one. It was on the
floor of this that the visiters lay, to be washed by the attendants;
for there were no raised seats for this purpose as in Turkish baths,
and the great octagonal one, with its cold fountain, the sides and
tops of which are ornamented with mosaic work of marble in Turkey, was
here replaced by the cistern described.

"The second division to which this room led, consisted of three parts;