ll of Turkish corpses," whispered Ted as he
surveyed the recumbent figures in white around him.

There were some differences between this genuine Turkish bath and our
British imitation of it which merit notice.

The court or hall in which the friends unrobed served the purpose of a
drying-chamber as well as a dressing-room. Hence those bathers who
entered to commence the operation of undressing had to pass between rows
of the men who had gone through the bath, and were being gradually
cooled down. They were all swathed from head to foot in white sheets,
with large towels or pieces of linen tied turban-fashion round their
heads, and as they lay perfectly straight and still, their resemblance
to Turkish corpses was disagreeably strong. This idea was still further
carried out in consequence of the abominable smell which pervaded the
place, for Algerines were at that time utterly indifferent to
cleanliness in their baths. Indeed, we may add, from personal
experience, that they are no better at the present time than they were
then! A few of the corpses, however, possessed sufficient life to
enable them to smoke and sip tea or coffee.

This outer court was the immediate vestibule to the bath, or
stewing-room--if we may be allowed the name. There was no passing, as
with us, from a private undressing-box, through a mild cooling room, and
thence into the hot and the hottest rooms. The Moors were bold, hardy
fellows. The step was at once made from the cooling into the hot room,
or bath, and in taking the step it was necessary to pass over one of the
open sewers of the town--to judge from the smell thereof. But this last
was a mere accidental circumstance connected with the bath, not an
essential part of it. Thus it will be seen there were but two
apartments in the establishment, with an outer lobby.

When the two friends had unrobed and wrapped a piece of striped calico
round their loins, they were led by a young Moor in similar costume
towards the stewing-room.

"Don' be frighted," whispered Rais Ali; "it's pretty hottish."

"I'll _try_ to be aisy," replied the seaman with a quiet smile, "an' av
I can't be aisy I'll be as aisy as I can."

Although he treated the idea of being frightened with something of
contempt, he was constrained to admit to himself that he was powerfully
surprised when he stepped suddenly into a chamber heated to an extent
that seemed equal to a baker's oven.

The apartment was octagonal,