Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 6, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 January 1910 — ARABS AT THEIR BATH. [ARTICLE]

ARABS AT THEIR BATH.

Gathering Place for the Women— Votive Offerings by Religions. Dr. Georges Martin of the thermal station of Hamman-Rirha gives an interesting account of Che Arabs who came in crowds to take the baths at that station. Their number every year can be estimated at more than 20,000. The London Globe says of these bathers about two-thirds are women. Eesides the medical effect the baths are for the Arab woman a meeting place where she encounters her friends, as they remain a long time in the baths, three-quarters of an hour or more. They dip themselves in the water from time to time; then, sitting •on the curb, they chat, laugh and slug. Sometimes one of them addresses an invocation to the Sultan Sliman (Solo min), patron of the springs hidden in the mountain. The more believing sometimes receive their recompense in seeing the steam rise from the waters.. After the bath the iiative rolls himself In his cloak and lies in the sun. To quench the burning thirst which the very warm bath gives Arabs suck the juice of lemons or oranges or they go to the "case maure” attached to the baths to drink a tiny cup of coffee. Many Arabs, instead of coming to the establishment, prefer to take the bath In the open air. On the side of the hill a spring flows from the rock and the natives come to bathe in the natural basin where the water gushes out. As a votive offering the women hang portions of their veils on the neighboring bushes. The childless come hert piously, to plunge In their small stuffed dolls. It is there that the prayer is above all agreeable to Sldl Sliman. They sacrifice fowls to him, they burp incense and spices In the earthern braziers, and it is in his honor that the little many colored wax taper* stuck in the ground burn so often at night