The Carolina Spartan. [volume] (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1852-1896, 1857-11-26
Miriam, the Belle Of the Harem.

4
/ around among the chbouks aud narghiles
10 my feet, where pressing his forehead TO
my hand, he contrived to whisper TO mo
that the Slit Miriam wanted to see me.
SupPos,ng thereby that she was ready TO
depart went out into the large reception
room; but no one was there. Nv sable
guide led on, while followed, strongly
suspicious that the imp might commit an
error aud guide mo into forbidden rooms.
was not far wrong. Crossing court
down into which tho stars shone. [ fol-.
lowed him into dark entry, when he
threw open door, and l found myself in
| tho holy OF holes Of an Eastern house
that spot forbidden to the foot of man in
all known ages of Moslem rule. The scene
that burst on my astonished vision was
worth journey to the Orient 10 see.
One swift glance around the room con.
| sinced mo that it was all right: for caucbt
the eyes Of Miriam, who was curIed upon n
crimson divan, and smoking narghile as
If she had beon brought up to it all her
life, and in moment / understood that
she had managed the introduction by some
ingenuity that could not have believed
possible
In Greece, tho seclusion Of the harem is
unknown. But in Greek families living iu
Egypt or Syria it is even more strictly en-.
forced than by the Mohammedans them.
selves, ior the contempt which ia poured
out On Mohammedan woman WHO has
shown her face 10 men is visited tenfold ON
Christians, who have difficulty in keeping
their positions in the country. The fool,
step OF man had never crossed this thresh
hold before except of father or brother,
and the inhabitants of this retreat shrank
ut hrst in terror from having their faces
| seen by stranger.
IL was by adroit management, by propo
slug 1t as fIolic, working up their curiosi
~ and pledgng eternal secrecy and instant
departure from tho country, that Miriam
had persuaded them 10 consent to send for
me; and they secured the old mans permis.
sion on the ground of the universal love of
Ereexs Tor Americans. And SO | was sent
for, and SO came.
The scene in the room, when / entered.
was worthy OF q painters presence. The
mother Of the family, seated on pile of
cushions, was woman of spleuded beauty;
and her daughters were like their mother.
Her young sister, a girl Of twenty-five or
three, and hor niece, q girl Of seventeen,
were standing near her, while their Nuban
siaves-Slender and graceful women, black
as night, but not thick Tipped, having "a.
ther the features Of tho Shealee OF Ecypt,
and. in form and face models Of grace aud
beauty-waited ou their beautiful mistress
es. a troop Of children, with large black
eyes, dressed like fairies, greeted my en-.
| trance with shout Of welcome, and for a
moment Lesilated 10 enter n place sacred
not only by Oriental custom against such
visit; bu! sacred especially by the presence
OF SO much magnificent beauty, not before
exposed 10 the eye Of stranger.
But the surprised look OF Miriam and OF
Mrs. and Miss Saunders reassured me: and
| advanced with as much courage as could
be expected Of q somewha, diiiilent Ameri.
can In an Eastern harem
Often since then, in still and quiet even
lngs, when ! remember the incidents of INV
Eastern travel, the face of that radiant
Greek girl comes before me like vision Of
the unreal beauties Of paradise.
l never saw women half so beautiful
She was the first and last Que that | saw
abroad whom thought equal 10 the Amc
rican standard Of female beauty; and she
was a star.
She was reclining on the diyan, half bu
RED in lis cushions, with her arms around
Miriam's neck, telling her, in all the rich
Oriental phrases she could invent, Of her
love for her newly found sister
viii endeayor, for the sake Of nv lady
readers, aud with assistance, 10 describe her
dress, which was almost fac SimRe Of the
dresses Of four other ladies in the room.
whose inferior beauty must excuse nv
leaving them 10 sketch their splendid com
panion.
firsily, shc wore the part Of the Turkish
!"dys dress which we would call the ,rou
sers known by them as tue Sh0.tiya., and
very dtielent affair from the puu,aloons
which The American ladies' rights ladies'
argue 50 much in favor OF. They are ne.
! cessaIily more cumbersome than tho ordi.
nary European style OF dress, being enor.
mousiy heavy folds Of silk stuff om6roiler
Cd with heavy gold til cad; gathered at the
ankles with gold and jeweIlcd bands. Those
OF Which no" speak were OF rose colored
silk, aud the little feet, that were quite hid
uc'' III Tue loidS "a tucy ieil around them
when she walked, were covered with veIye,
slippers, embroidered with seed pearls.
The yeltak-a sort OF open dress that
tails III long train behind, and is fastened
only st tue waist, falling away SO rs to
leave Tho shintiyan visible-is, believe.
not worn by unmarried ladies; but she had
a similar dress, of the same rose colorcd
silk, richly embroidered. A low chemise,te,
with embroidered front and sleeves, le. al.
most the entire bus! exposed, and a velvet
jacket, heavy with gold thread and Jewels,
completed tho rich and gorgeous costume.
But the dress although of The most cost.
~ iAoncs OF the Damascus looms, was as
nothing compared with tho jewels ,ha,
dashed from her wrists, and neck, and
hair.
over hor left shoulder, hanging like a
I sash down IN tho ,;,I,,