| MOORISH BATH.
Muslims who can afford the trifling expense which it requires; and not
only of human beings, but of evil genii, unfortunately, on which account, as
well as on that of decency, several precepts respecting it have been dictated
by Mohammed. It is frequented for the purpose of performing certain
ablutions required by the religion of the faithful, or by a regard for cleanliness and its salutary effects, and for mere luxury. Edward William Lane, the distinguished Arabic scholar, says that the public bath comprises several apartments, with mosaic or tesselated pavements, composed of white and
black marble, and pieces of fine tile, and sometimes of other materials.
The inner apartments are covered with a dome having a number of very
small, round windows for the admission of light. It is through these openings that the long and vapor-powdered rays stream down in our present
scene, and splash in brilliant little ovals on the wall and the floor and in
the damsel's hair—an effect of light which Gerome has amused himself
more than once by depicting, with varying success. The baths in private
houses are similar to the public ones, but on a smaller scale, generally
consisting of only two or three chambers. It is probable that this Light of
the Harem is in her own private establishment, as the chambers in the public bathing-places are much larger than the one in which she and her dusky
attendant find themselves. The slave has rubbed her mistress' supple
form all over, the soles of her feet possibly with a coarse earthen rasp, and
her limbs and body with a woollen bag which covers the hand as a glove,
has kneaded her flesh like good dough, and is now carefully preparing the
lather with soap and water and fibres of the palm-tree, to complete the
ablutions. Then will follow a cup of fragrant coffee for the fair bather and
the delightful and dreamy relaxation which ensues. Let us hope that in
her idle waking dreams she may have no knowledge of the barbarians and
unbelievers who have ventured to profane her privacy.
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