Bathing in the Hot Springs.

Cromwell Argus, Volume III, Issue 135, 11 June 1872, Page 7

Bathing in the Hot Springs.

A writer in the Napier Telegraph thus describes a buthe in tiie hot springs of Orakeikorako :—The baths are in continual use by the natives—men, women, and children together luxuriate in them indiscriminately —placidly smoking, and puffing away care—that is, if they have any care, which we a'most doubt. The evening after our arrival, the water was studded with black heads, distinctly seen from the village heights. Being lovers of the bath, we descended to indulge in the luxury ; approaching with a towel, we expected the ladies would retire—no such thing. We waited a little, and pretended to regard some shrubs in the neighbourhood. The ladies still smoked, and they still remained. It was embarrassing! It could not be expected, that after travelling 120 miles or more for the purpose of bathing we should undergo disappointment—what could be done I At last we told these interesting people what our inclinations were, —the answer was "come in." We screwed our courage to the sticking place, and "in perfect innocence we then made our toilet." In a second, one foot was in the pool, and in less than another it was out again. It was beyond physical or philosophical enduranc; —in short was insuppoitibly hot. We had forgotten the natural law that compels the hottest particles of water to seek the surface—here was a dilemma. On the verge of that treacherous bath "we were the observed of all observers ;" w r e were not ambitious, and the distinction was not gratifying. At last one compassionate matron (may her shadow never grow less !) gave two or three sweeps of the hand, causing the hotter media to commingle ; when the heat was thus modified in we jumped, and were quickly submerged. Everything was done with dignity and decorum. The thud was so exceedingly soft, the heat so agreeable, that one almost sighs to leave. At this place, fed as the baths are by the boiling fountain, the surface water needs occasional disturbance and dispersion.