Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1849-07-04
AN ARAB BELLE:
ORA PEEP INTO A sHeIKH's HAREM.

OR PEEP INTO SHElKH'S HAREM.
Of the three ladies now forming this harem, the
chief was Amsha, lady celebrated in the song of
every Arab in tho desert, for her beauty and noble
blood. She was the daughter of Hassan Sheikh of
the Tai, a tribe tracing its origin from the remotesi
antiquity, and one of whose chiefs, Hatem her an
cesior, is a hero of Eastern romance Sofuk had
carried her away by force from her father but had
always treated her with great respect. From her
rank and beauty she had earned the title of .Queen
OF the Desert" Her form, traceable through the
thin shirt which she wore like other Arab women
was well proportioned and graceful. She was tall
IN stature and fair in complexion. Her features were
regular, and her eyes dark and brilliant. She had
undoubtedly, claims TO more than ordinary beauty
to the Arabs she was more than perfection for all
the resources of their art had been exhausted 10
complete what nature had begun Her lips were
dyed deep blue, her eye lids were continued in indi-
GO until they united over the nose, her cheeks and
forehead were spotted with beauty Marks her eye
lashes darkened by kohl and on her legs and bo-
som could be seen the tattooed ends Of flowers and
fancul ornaments, which were carried in festoons
and network over her whole body. Hanging from
each ear, and reaching to the waist, was an enor-
nous earring of gold, terminating in tablet of the
same material, carved and ornamened with the four
turquolses Her nose was adorned with prodgious
gold ring set with jewels, of such ample dimen-
sions that it covered the mouth and was to be re-
moved when the lady ale. Ponderous rows ofslrung
beads, Assyran cylinders, fragments of coral, agaes
and paril- coOred stones from her neck loose silver
rings encircled her wrists and ANGLES, making loud
jlngllng as she walked. Over her blue shirt was
thrown, when she issued from her tent coarse str
ped cloak, and common black handkerchief was
tied round her head. He- menage combined, the
old song be true, the domestic and the queenly and
was carried on with nice appreciation of economy
The Immense sheet of black goat hair canvass,
tprmpd tent Iyoc ODD h1rf
fourteen stout poles, and was completely open on
one side. Being entirely set apart for the women,
1t had no partitions, as in the tent of the common
Arab, who is obliged TO corner for the re-
cepton of his guests Between the centre poles
were placed, upright and close to one another large
camel or goat-hair Sacks filled with rice, corn, bar
ley, coffee, and other household stuff their mouths
being, of course, upwards. Upon them were spread
carpets and cushions, on which Amsha reclined. A
round her, squatted on the floor, were some fifty
hand maidens, tending the wide cauldron, baking
bread the iron plate heated over the ashes or sha-
king between tlremthe skin suspended between three
stakes, and filled with milk, TO be thus churned into
butter. Ii is the privilege OF the wife to prepare in
her tent the dinners of the sheikh's guests. The fires
lighted on all sides, sent forth cloud of smoke
which hung heavily under the foldsof the tent, and
would have long before dmmed any eyes less bright
than those of Amsha. As supplies were asked fol
by the women, she lifted the corner of her carpet
contents Every thing passed through her hands
To show her authority and rank, she poured contin
ually upon her attendants torrent Of abuse, ant
honored them with epihets of which may be ex
cused attempting TO give the translation her vocab
ulary equaling ifnot excelng, in richness that O
the highly educa ted lady the CITY. The combine
ton of the domestic and authoritative was ihas com
plete. Her children, three naked little urchins
black with sun and mud, and adorned with long
tail hanging from the crown of their heads rolled il
the ashes or on the grass. Amsha, asI have observ
ed, shared the affections, though the tent of So
fuk-for each establishment has tent of its own
with two other ladies, Antonio, an Arab, not mucl
inferior to her rival in personal appearance; an,
Ferrah, originally Yedizi slave, who had no pre-
tensions to beauty. Amsha, however, always main
tanned her sway, and the others could not sit, with
out her leave, in her presence. To her alone wer
conflded the keys of the larder--supposing Sofuk
have had either keys or larder-and there was n
appeal from her authority all subjects Of domes
tic economy.-Laymd's .Ni'aevah and IFS Remain,