Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-09-01
LIFE az wouEHTvTHE EAST.

The following description, taken from q
work entitled Egyptian SePu!chTes and Syr-
ian Shrines,1 written by two sisters, the
Misses Beaufort, is interesting:
The gayest sight we ever saw was the sw eel
waters Of Asia, to whic0 lady DulweT kindly
took US, on the great day Of The year-the
Friday after Aourban Bairam This is the
summer Vyde park, Of 1pie-the
sweet waters Of Europe being oniv IN fashion
during the winter season; there D. 10 beauty
in he spot, save that Of a few fine trees, be-
meath whose shade the women sit the whole
dag. The place was excessively crowded, and
one could not have a better opportunity Of
Studying Turkish women; tlsy did not seem 20
be enormously unlike the pictures drawn OF
them By those Of our modern poets, who de-
scribe them as fair and modest pearls, sitting
Ike snewdrops enclosed in one Of Wards pa
tent sealed csses, the damp dsws Of the inside
Of the glass answering to the jsalousies through
which the almond shaped eyes CLEAN in half
velsd light.
Here the gay Haunting flowers Of the Bos-
ph5Tiue haTems were sitting in q closely
packed mass upon the greansward, under the
shade Of the oak and be elm, the coloTs jun
hiad into each other, Ike the pattern ct
brilliant Partisan carpet, thrown p upon the
groundwork Of their white wells, almost dsz
harsh biri-iil,e. cease.es8 chatter of the ladies'
tongues was almost relieved by the occasional
cry of a spoiled enid, or the aqusak Of
swadlle@ baby.
Each group Of two or three womes had their
own mattress, gg0ilaa (Ciay j5T) Of water, and
an embroidered handkerchief, containing their
comestibles for the day-chieav raw cuCun-
beTs, Of which they eat from morning till
Dizht-and most Of them were smoking usrgi-
Ia .Nrs-r .
and round the small meadow, seated in gided
aud painted tslegGs, something like our royal
stage coach, only twO or three Of which had
curtains drawn % conceal the inmates.
Some oe the Sultan's family were there, each
lsdT with couple Of slaves on the back seat
Of the carriage, dressed as zsijy, if not as
richly, as herself, mang Of the slaves are petted
up almost ss much as their mistTesses, and
their slsvadom is sometimes the extreme OF
luxury. Since the last few years, the yasnak
has ceased to be a "ansTe," anu has become
only a "ielGsiOnD--0Rcs il cOEcealed the fsa
lures Of its wearer, now it only sets of and
enhances their beauty
s.I.ise tbe fndistiuc-. golden aud vsDorous fleece
Which surrounded and bid Che C6Iestals IN Gre Gee
From he gangs Of men,
the single rold Of gossamer gauze across the
mouth aad chin acting far less jealously on the
fair faces Of the Constan inOpie ladies than
tue OF LLt EudNB ltLlls 45lb VI all0
ladies OF our own country.
There were some beauties among them, and
some Of those more remarkable for intelii-
genCe than the others, reminded me of sWeHt
gentle faces at home; but these were few, for,
in general, they looked sadly insane. Aud yet
we were assured on the best authority that
they DO not now BY any maaus lead the entire
" vacant lives we are accuso omed to believe
they do; there is scarcely baTem belonging
to q toleTably rich person, where the ladies do
not read French and play oH the piano forte,
besides occupying themselves with many kinds
OF embroidery, and some even sing and draw;
one Pasha'5 wife was mentioned TO US who had
lately PLAYED toe whole OF he "Tr0vatOrc2 5v
heart to cur informant. But these accom-
piJshmeuts are all learned from French gov
ernesses and feHHes de chambre, with whom
they are literally supplied; and with these ac-
complishmeHts they learn also the morals, or
rather imm0rais, Of tbeirteachors. who ale in
VsTia5V q very Iisreputable class.
"Progress' has indeed begun even in The
Turkish harems, bat it is the progress Of vice
only; formerly, if they had not intelligence
enough to be useful and good, they were at
least in happy ignorance Of many Of the vices
10 which they are now addicted. Perhaps the
sight Of European women does them more
harm than good; for when they see rs going
and coming and rejoicing in our own liberty,
they fancy that we must use that liberty for
only the same objects as they would; they can
conceive no other kind Of restraint upon our
selves than that of brick walls and strong
locks. and then long for the freedom which
would enable hem to obtain the paradise of
passing the whole day in endless coquetTy,
flirting and admiration.