The Sun.
London, England, 1835-02-05 00:00:00

THE HAREM OF THE PACHA OF

EGYPT.

The following is an extract of a letter from an American

lady resident at Alexandria, who, during her resort to
Cairo, in September last, was favoured with the extraordi-
nary privilege of a visit to the Sultana and the Harem of
Mehemet Ali :

" We are the only Christians who have ever been ad-
mitted into the Pacha's Harem. We were there twice.
The first was a mere visit, but the second was to spend the
day. I must endeavour to describe it to you. At the
gate we were received by a dozen black eunuchs, who led
us to the garden-gate, where we found three girls playing
upon different Arab instruments, while two others were
singing and two dancing, magnificently dressed in crimson
and blue cloth, embroidered with gold, the full pantaloons
hanging over the foot, just allowing an embroidered
slipper to be seen ; a jacket tight to the shape, with-
out sleeves, open a little upon the chest, where ap-
peared a chemise of blue or white gauze ; closely
spangled sleeves of the same, hanging large and full to the
elbow, and down behind in a dozen plaits ; and on the
side and top of the head large sprigs of diamonds. A
sash of gold tissue, with a deep gold fringe finished the
dress. These pretty creatures preceded us to the palace
door,-where we were met by old friends by the Sultana,
her maids of honour, and attendants, to the number of
one hundred at least. The great hall of state into which
we were ushered was an immense one, lined and floored
with white marble ; in the centre a basin, fifteen feet in
diameter, from which the clearest water was playing ; the
ceiling richly painted and gilt ; one side of the hall lined
with ottomans of white silk embroidered in gold, and a
beautiful Persian carpet spread in front of these. As soon
as we were seated, coffee and pipes were handed to us. The
Sultana is about thirty-five years old, with a fine face,
though her eye is stern. Her dress was a challi, made in
the Turkish style, only more closed over the neck. On her
head was a sort of skull-cap, formed entirely of diamonds ;
around this was twisted an embroidered kerchief, and on the
left side down the ear was placed a sprig of flowers, made of
e vrr:
irut h:hndei
aa, mgeov:intdt:es
r.
never
enormous diamonds, a single pair of ear-rings, shaped like a
drop, as large as the end of my little finger, and on her
.finger was a superb diamond ring. Around us
the nu: deed attendants, dressed in coloured silks,
of the lowest rank, with head
littlestoo
zuvlereedv
saw be):::.
pipe staves and sockets of
the coffee Cups were also cover with these precious
e. An Arme-
stones.
nian woman, who spoke Italian, was there a: an
inter-
preter. Our gloves and buckles excited their admira:jon,
as indeed did our whole dress. • We were taken all over
the palace, which vied throughout in elegance with the
great hall. At half-past twelve we were led by the Sultana
down to the reception-room to dinner. As we entered,
girls bearing silver basins, approached; others, with pitchers,
poured water over our hands, and others presented us with
towels. On the centre of the Persian carpet was placed a
small table, about a foot square, covered with cloth of gold
tissue ; on that was a circular glass-waiter, about three
feet in diameter. In the centre was a dish of roast mutton.
The Sultana sat down with my mother and self on either
side of her, then E- and G-, and a lady of the
Court, formerly a slave of the Pacha, but now married to a
Colonel. The china was French, and handsome silver
knives and forks, &c., which the Sultana did not know how
to use.

When we sat down, a napkin was placed in each of our
laps, another embroidered with gold laid over the right
shoulder, and a third and finer one laid upon the lap to
wipe the mouth with. Some of the slaves fanned us ;
some held the different dishes, and others silver pitchers,
and so on. The dinner was almost too much for us :we
counted thirty-nine different dishes, one at a time, and of
each we were obliged to eat a little—and so strangely
served as they were ! The first five dishes were of mutton,
rice, &c. ; then a sweet dish, next fried fish and nuts,
and so on to the thirty-ninth, which was stewed rice and
bonny elaber. The glass salver was then taken away, and
a silver one with melons, peaches, grapes, &c., replaced
it. Whon we rose from table, the girls with the basins
knelt before us and our hands were washed as before, when
pipes and coffee were given us to finish with. While we
smoked the Sultana retired to prayers, which she does five
times a day. Now if you could have witnessed the scene
you would have imagined us among a parcel of great chil-
dren. Oh, how we were dragged about, patted and pulled,
each declaring we belonged to her, and should not speak to
the others. At three o'clock we were sent for to depart.
The Sultana held us tight, however, and said the Capudan
Pacha had no business to send for us, and it was four
o'clock before we could get away. We made a great pro-
cession through the garden : first went the musical, dan-
cing, and singing girls ; then the Sultana and ourselves,
slaves bearing fans of peacock feathers over our heads, and
then came the attendants. At the garden-gate sherbet
was handed, when we took a kind farewell of our hospitable
Sultana, and were consigned to the care of the eunuchs,
who led us to the carriage."

EXTRAORDINARY MUSICAL CAPACITY.—A
Paris paper contains a curious account of the musical capacity
exhibited by an old woman of 60, who had from an early age
been an inmate of Salpetriere (a receptacle for lunatics). A
young actress of one of the minor theatres of Paris having be-
come an inmate of the asylum, was impressed with the idea
that slut was representing some character, and sang, danced,
and recited by turns. One day the old woman, upon hearing
the actress sing, beat time with wonderful precision, and ap-
peared highly delighted. The moment she heard an air she
was able to retain it, and could hum it over when asked,
although she could not speak ; and, what is still more extra-
ordinary, an individual having sung over an air which he had
composed off-hand, she caught it instantly and repeated it.
An air having been played to her upon the piano, she seemed
quite enraptured, and appeared to appreciate the most striking
passages with the taste of a finished musician. The head of
this woman is said to puzzle the phrenologists, for, so far from
having the ()Tail of music strongly marked, she is totally
destitute of it.