The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1858-09-21
DINNER IN A TURKISH HAREd-

1t
Arab slaves. richly attfed To each lady, as she
entered one of these held beautiful silver bowl,
while the other poured rose water over her hands
from a vase of the same richly chased material
Two little slave girls presented fine napkins, the
ends embroidered in gold, on which we each shook
the rosewater from our fingers The dining room
was most luxurious apartment closely aticed, for
it looked into the streets of Stanb0ul but cheerful
and rich in crimson divans and carved and painted
flowers on the walls and ceiling. Nj had been
done to make the cage bcarable. 1tva facha
harem is, | am told one of the most "tashionahle,
which accounted for seeing an European table,
adorned with handsome centre piece and tonr
beautiful vases of flowers and fruit, after the
French fashion aFjA@'
The dinner service was Of rare and beautiful
China; the silver knives and forks were extremely
handsome, the serrefs dehcately fine, the flowers
exouisitelv arranged and mingled with oranges
and lemons, in Eastern fashion; the slaves were
( standing round three or four deep awaiting our
shnhtcst SIGN: we felt still more in the land OF
dreams af -s -.
First of all, they placed to each guest spark
| lin@ watcrbotte and glass. Then a fine china
plate containing fat roll of kind OF rye bread
called scmcet, quite new and warm, and covered
with small seed, which, not being canary or
a linnet, objected TO. Then soup was seryed--a
! great novelty in haronl--it was most excellent
| chicken and vcruacc!li Then cane dish Of pilau
Of chicken and rice, done brown. sat next to the
chief wife on her RIGHT hand the slave held the
dish she pointed out the incest pieces Logging me
to take them The far Circiessian sat opposite to
me- ] was curious to see if they teally seemed to
like the modern innovation Of knives and forks
For the first few minutes they used them-oy licnt-
" to do as we did; but the Circassin beauty fail
inc TO secure the particular piece Of chicken she
coveted with a troublesome fork and spoon, threw
those incompetent auxiliar:es down, and grathed
successfuI!y and to her entire satisfaction, with
her fingers She then looked at nc and laughed
and then showed nc how to take piece Of bread
between my fingers, begging us to cat Ia 1n'"
quc which they were all doing themselves, fast
and furious and to please them We picked few
chicken bones with our fingers. We had all three
been enchanted with the fair Circassian as | have
told vou,-with her beauty, her winning, yet lofty
manners, and exquisite grace; we had seen hc1
smoke and admired her still; we had even forgiven
her for loving the barbarous noise lnthe icon
cert of-mt,sic; but to see her lick her fingers III
to the last Joint after each dish-to see her hch
her favorte tortoise she'll spoon bright, after sue
; ccssiye and nevcr-to-be-beleyed enormous plate
/ fulls Of sweet pancakes, daubed with honey, ant
tarts too luscious for the Knave Of Hearts, thi
was too much for Y ems herself to have done witt
impunity; we were perfectly disenchantcd Ion;
before the feat was o:er.
The rest were not so bad, (cxceptinc Mad. Lis
: ton, who might as wcH have been trough a
: once,) but we began to feel rather sick after tn
first few dishes We're dispatched, and the anl1na
passions cf some of the ladies began to be rouse
= by heir favorte sweets and jcIes, which the
tore to pieces with their fingers and threw dow
J their threats in large lumIs. The jester waite
at table, presenting the principal dishes with joke
- which caused bursts of laughter from the ladie
i and the slaves in attendance, who seem perfect
: at home, and very free and easy terms VT
J. their mistresscs notwithstanding their con1piet
S S,s submission to them. The Jester was a wild an
h most extraordinary looking woman: with an III
a. mcnsity of broad humor and drollery in her fac
4 We thought it quite well that we could not III
J derstand the fair Circassian between the ntcrva
70 of licking her fingers and spoon and popping II
~ bits on our plates, laughed so complaccntly, an
y which sometimes Obliged the Arabs and eunucI
- at the door to dive under the erras to conce
u their uncomfortable fits of mirth.-Nls HoT"sIJ
- | Work on Const0ntinnphe.