The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1825-10-27

came to implore his protection The rich
ness of their dress, the noblencss of their
gait, their little soft hands, their beautiful
eyes, their noble and graceful department,
their elegant manners, denoted them wo-
men Of the first rank, and Of an education
far above the vulgar. They always began
by kissing the hand of the Sultan Kebir,
(Kebr means great which they then
placed on the forehead, then on the breast
Many of them expressed their dsmands
with the most perfect grace, in most en-
chanting voice, and exhibited the plea
sanness and talents of the most sprightly
European females. The decorum OF their
deportment,and hemodesty Of their d,-e ss,
added new graces TO them, and the imHs l.
nation delighted itself in fancymg charia >
il was not permitted TO behold.
With the orientals the women arc sa.
cred, and in all their civil wars, they arc
constantly spared. Those of the Mame-
lukes preserved their houses at Cairo
while their husbands made war against
the French. Napoleon sent Eugene his
son-in-law to compliment the wife of Mou->
rah Bey, who had under her orders about,
30 slaves belonging to this chief of tho
Mamelukes, and TO the Katchefs. II was
a kind of religious convent which she oc-
cupied, and Of which she was the abbess.
She received Eugene on her grand disan,
IN the horem, where he entered by cScep--
ton as envoy from the Sultan Kebir. All
the women wanted to see the young and
handsome Frenchman, and the slaves
could hardly restrain their curiosity and
impatience. The wife of Mourah Bey was
woman Of fifty years Of age, with beauty
and grace befitting her years. According
TO custom she had brought in for her guest
coffee and sherbct, in very rich services.
and with sumptuous apparel. She took
from her finger ring with 1000 Louis
dor and gave il to the young officer. She
often made requests of tho general in
chief, that he would preserve her villages
and constantly protect her. She was con-
sidered woman of distinguished merit.
The women fade early in Egypt; their
complcxions arc more Frequently brown
than white, generally their faces have u
little of the copper tint. The handsonsc't
are the Greeks and Circassians, with
| l. xfto A.
keep the markets well supplied. The ca
ravans of Darfour and from the interior Of
Africa, bring great numbers Of handsome
blacks.
Marriages are made without the parties
having seen each other; the wife may have
seen tho husband, but he has nevor seen
his betrothcd before Marriage, at least the
appearance Of her face. Those Of the e.
gyptians who had rendered services to the
French, sometimes even the Schciks, ,camo
to request Of the general in chief that he
would give them for wife such n person,
whom they named. The first request Of
this nature was made by an Aga Of the Ja-
nissaries, kind of police agents, who had
been very useful to the French, and who
was anxious TO mnrry rich widow. This
request appeared very singular to Napolc-
on; but said he, do you love her?-No.-Iv,
she willing' Yes, if you order it. In fact,
as soon as she learnt the will ofthe SULTAN
Kebir, she accepted, and the MARI iaqe
took place. In the end these requests
were often repeated. The wome n hnvo
their privileges. There are tbi'lgs that
their husbands cannot refuse them, without
being considered barbarians and monsters.
and raising every body against thern; such.
for instance is the right to go to the oath,.
There arc vapor baths, where the women
Icongrcgate (rcunissent) II is t'nere, that
are plotted all political and othe intriguos
and there, all the marriages ? re arranged
Gen. Menou, having marie d a woman a.
Rosetta, treated her in the French stv,e-
lie gave her his hand TO conduct her 20 ia
dinner room; the best place at the sablc.
and the most delicate morsels were nlwav.,
selected for her. If she drr,pped her
handkorcliiefhc hastened to h md il 70 ber
When this lady had relate, all these cir.
cunstanccs at the baths 'Jf Rosetta to ,h,
other ladies', they conceived groat hopes Of
introducing change ofmanners, and sipr-
cd an Urgent request 10 the Sultan E,b;r-