Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1854-09-27
STAUNTON. A, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27' 1904
A Visit to the Princess of Seminar.

DR.. Reitz took me one day to visit the celebra-
ted Stitch Nady) Na.ra, the daughter of the last
King of SEMINAR, and brother ofthe present Shekh
of that province. She is woman of almost mas
culine talent and energy, and may be sard to gov
ern SEMINAR at present All the Arab Shekhs, as
well as the population at large, have the greatest
respect for her, and invariably ask her advice IN
any crisis of affairs Her brother, ldrs Wed Ad-
Ian, notwithstanding his nominal subsection to T.,
gypt, still possesses absolute sway over seVefai
hundred villages, and is called King OF kuile.--
The LADY Nasra retains the title of Sultana. on
account Of her descent from the ancient royal
house of Sennaar She has place at Serbia, on
the Blue Nile, which, according to Lepsius, ex-
bibits depree of wealth and state very rare ID
Soudan. She was then in Khartoum on Vlsl''
with her husband, Mohammed Defalieh, the son
Of former Vizer other father, King Adlan.
We found the Lady Nasra at home, seated on
carpet in her audience hall, her husband and
Shekh ADD el Kader-the Shekh of khartoum,
who married her daughter by former husband
occupying an adjacent carpet. She gave me
Consul her hand saluied me as stranger, with
an inclination of her hand, and we seated our
selves on the iloor opposite her. She was abort
forty five years old, but appeared younger, and
still retained the traces of her former beauty
Her skin was pale bronze color, her eyes large
and expressive, and her face remarkable tor us
Intelligence and energy. All her motions were
graceful and dignifed, and under more favorable
circumstances she iaight have become sort OF
Ethiopian Zenobia. She wore single robe OF
yery fine white muslin, which she sometimes fold
ed so as nearly to csnceal her features, and some
times allowed to fall to her waist, revealing the
somewhat over ripe charms of her bosom. "A
heavy ring of the native gold of Kasan hung IRON
her nose, and others adorned her fingers. Dr
Reitz explained to her that was not Frank
but came from great country on the other sde o.
the world. She spoke of the visit OF DIR. .LePsl'
us. at Serbia, and said that he was the only Tar
travelled stranger she had seen, except mySelf
| took occasion to say that had frequently healc
of her in my native land that her name was wei
known all over the world ); and that the prlncIpa
reason of my visit to SOudan, was the nope OF see
ing her. She was not i'll the least fattered by
these exaggerated compliments. but received them
as quietly as if they were her right. She was
born queen, and doubt whether anything upor
the earth would have been able to shake her roy
al indifference.
Her slaves were all girls of twelve to fourteen
wears Of age, naked except the rahdd, or grdle o
leather fringe about the loins. They had evident
" been chosen for their beauty, and two OF them
although as black as cast iron statues, were In
comparable for the symmetry of their forms ane
the grace of their movements. They brought Us
pipes and coffee, and when not employed, stoot
in row at the bottom of the room, with thei
hands folded upon their breasts. Dinner was JUS
ready, and we were invited to partake OF 1t. lht
Sultana had already dined in solitary state, so he
husband, Shekh ADD ell Kader, the Consul and
seated ourselves legged on the floor, arounc
the huge bowl containing an entire sheep stuffed
with rice. We buried our fingers in the hot anc
smoking flesh, and picked the choicest pieces from
the ribs and flank, occasionally taking handful
of rice from the interior. The only additional dish
was basket of raw onions and radishes. Before
US stood slave with napkin and large glass
of ON bilbil-the ''mother of nightingales." AT
ter drinking, we returned the glass to the slaves
hand. she standing all the while immovable as 8
statue. After we had eaten our fill of roast NUT
ton and raw onions, they brought dish Of prepar
ed dou!ra, called abri, which strongly resemble;
the pinote of Mexico. The grain is pounded very
fine, siftod, mixed with little sugar and water
and made into thin, dry leaves, as white and del
icate as cambric. 1t is considered very nourlsh
ing, especially on journey, for which purpose Il
is used by the shekhs of Soudan.
AS we took our leave, the Sulana, observing
that our cane batons, which we had just purchas
ed in the bazaar, were of very indifferent quality
ordered two others to be brought, OF tine yellow
wood. resembling box, which is found in the moun'
tans on the Abyssinian frontier, and gave them te
us.-BnYard Taylor.