Rensselaer Union, Volume 10, Number 32, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 April 1878 — Turkish Bath Among the Nez Perces. [ARTICLE]

Turkish Bath Among the Nez Perces.

On last Sunday afternoon a Times reporter visited the Nez Perees camp above Fort Leavenworth, and through the courtesy of Lieut. Wieting, was permitted for a short time to observe the condition of' the red captives. Everything about, the camp bore a cheerful aspect and appeared remarkably clean. This is in measure due, perhaps, to the habits of the tribe, which require them to take a bath every morning. The modus operatuli of the •bath is in some respects peculiar, one portion of the process being a sweat bath. When the camp was first established the artisans who were competent for the work built a “ sweat-house,” consisting of a deep hole in the ground within a few feet of the river and covered ingeniously with earth, making the roof appear like a mound with top like the bottom of an iron kettle. An aperture was left on the east side; in front of this, a fire was built and several large stones which had been collefcted were heated red hot. In the bottom of the hole was placed a sufficiency of water to create steam; the rocks then were thrown in, and the members of the tribe one after another went into the oven, for such it is, and remained until the body Was profusely covered with perspiration. After this a leap through the aperture to the open air, and a plunge into the cold waters of the Missouri finished the bath. This custom is an old one with the Nez Ferces, and the bath is taken regularly every morning no matter what the condition of the weather is, or what the ailments of the body may be, so long as the man or woman is able to walk. This prbceeding, which is not unlike a Turkish bath, is said by the braves who can speak a little English to “make Indian much good.”— Leavenworth Times.