Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-01-28
TURKISH WOMEN, AND THE MODE
OF PURCHASING THEM.

Translated from French Periodical Tor the irsh
Shield
At the present moment, when the eyes oil :he
whole world are fixed on the struggle between
Russia and Turkey, the following observations
of a French Traveller, on the wretched oono'-
ton OF the female sex in those eastern coutrles,
subject to the barbarous sway Of Mahomelahr
ism, may have some interest for the reader OF
the Shield The hapless fate Of oriental females
has been often the subject OF commisseration
with the enlighted and generous mind: now
often mus, the poor oriental females, view 'h's
land Of Liberty, with an envious eye, where the
talents and virtues Of the fair sex are justly APP
preciated, and where they sustain their proper
rank in the scale Of society-where
"-Generous love and reason jointly reign,
And sense and virtue rivet beauty's chain
Nor guards, bolts, their waveIlng faith secure,
But love, that formed the vow, preserves 1t pure.
"The European, says the French writer, ia
miliarized with the idea Of the natural equality
Of the sexes, behods with pity The natural STU
alton Of the fairies, portion Of creation through
out the Turkish empire, and almost the whole
continent Of Asia-he sees them degraded from
being the associates Of man, the charmers OF
hi dull hours, and The ornaments OF the social
circle, 10 the rank OF mere creatures Of his will,
and the slaves Of his passion.
Controlled in all their inolina,ops, restrained
in all their actions, watched over with indei-
cate observance, and forcbly compelled TO re-
gulate their lives and conduc, SO as to obtain
the partial, and slightly determined favols Of
boorish master; exposed 10 insult and caprice,
to the rage and torment Of jealousy, or the hope
lessnes, Of ungrateful desire: in some instances
torn from the arms Of their weeping parents,
fro ko e kair
of the friends Of their youth; cut off from hopes
innocenly but impruden,ly INDUCED, exposed
to sale hike the interior classes of animals, and
fluctuating according TO the lawless will OF their
lord, between the situation Of their servant, or
his servant, or his mistress. The condition oil
women, even in the married state, exhibited In
the most favorable point OF view, cannot APP
proach eonnubial happiness; they are the slaves
Of despois, who are strangers 10 all the noble
affrc tiSns of the heart. The wife cannot be
seen abroad with her husband, nor he remain
constantly at home with her. Shu: up in the
harem, disgus,ed with its UNMARRIED scene, with
out knowledge Of literature or the arts, she has
| no relief but in the duties Of her household and
family. She can have no pleasure even in a
dorning her person with diamonds or shining
silks, since however embeliished by The grace
OF dress, it cannot excite other passion than en-
Wy in female bosoms.
The Turkish women are beautiful, though
their beauty is of a diferen, character from tina,
Of European female, Their eyes are blue and
bland, their hair luxurant-their faces fresh
and rosy, and their persons, though too corpu-
lent, "a perfection in The opinion OF a Turk,
possess grea' symmetry Of proportion.
in the Crimea 10 the mart Of slaves, where an
Armenian, had exposed COR sale two Circassian
girls Of the mos, exquisite loneliness. We
feigned an intention o! purcha.ing them, in or
der to crafty our curiosity, and ascertain the
mode OF conduc ing such inhuman sales. The
maidens were introduced to US one after anoth.
err. Their deportmen, wa. graceful and modest
to dlfhdence The first presented, was in her
fourteenth We ar; she was elegantly dressed, her
lace was covered with a veil, through which
her blue eyes, as well as neck and shoulders that
rivalled the parian marble in Wilderness, shone
like stars piercing black cloud. She advance
ed towards the German, bowed down and kis-
sed his hand; then, at the command of her mas
ter, she walked backwards and forwards in lie
tent, to show her fine shape, and the easiness OF
her carriage; she then raised her robe so as TO
show the beautiful efficacy Of leg and foot
that would have charmed Praxiteles. When
she took off her veil, our eyes were dazzled
with dimpled face, 10 which the lily and the
rose were blended on the cheeks Of blooming
youthfulness. Her air was at once noble and
modest, her gestures animating and digni6rd.
Her tresses, as black as ebony, fell carelessly
over her lovely breast, and when she smiled she
showed teeth Of a dazzling whiteness and epa>
mel.
She rubbed her cheeks with a wet napkin to
prove than she had not used art 10 improve, or
heighten The bloom Of hci complexion We
were permitted to feel her pulse that we nigh,
be convinced Of the good state of her health &
constitution. She then retired with all the a.
giity and grace of one of Diana's nymphs com.
ing out Of the fountain. Her attractive charms
won the heart Of my German friend who pur-
chased thi, lovely girl for four thousand pias-
lers."
In Ta,tnall County along the route Of the
contemplated canal, between the Ogechce and
the Al:amaha, and about miles above the
point were The Ohoopie empties into the las,
mentioned noble river, one Of Engineers
(AIr. Jao. b Mils) found all the remains Of