The New York herald., 1870-01-23
THE PRINCESS OF WALES.

v SnAt VI khcF AGOyuI fIkuOeSS IO tnc E9y pIlun
Harcm-A Royal Reception I efres eshments-
Tho Native Ladies' at Table.
In her journal OF the recent tour OF the Prince and
Princess OF Wales In the East, the Hon. Mrs. Grey
gives q graphic account OF ysit to the harem Of
the viceroy Of Egypt's mother. Mrs. Grey says
We drove first through garden which later In the
year must be beautiful. ana were received at the
oHd and third wife q o the viceroy tne rst and fourth
were not we his eldest son ana two eldest daugl-
ters La grande p,iacesse took the princess by the
Mrs. Stanton, and one OF the daughters Miss Mac
lean and thus we went In procession to an immense
slaves. We only passed through this ROOM how
ever, and went straight to the dining room, after
On most eeautu Us gold 20 eat raS asnaeS WITH ~
g gobleIs and plates M of gold and precious
basin to wash our hands IN before we sat down to
dinner We were each given sort or tortoise shell
spoon, with large coral branch as handle, but
old Princess, we all dipped our spoons into the
tureen together. Next came an enormous bit OF
ad o. wmcn mic we hsa 70 ear on 6s w our
About twenty dishes Followed In rapid succession,
alternately savory ana sweet large sort OF ONE
let, sausages full Of garlic, sweet dish OF vermi
CELL and sugar, fried fish, sweet dish made OF rose
water and tapioca or gum half liquid dressed out
on the top with almonds and served In basin a
dish OF hashed meat with onions kind OF mnce or
sago. rice and raw onions all rolled In cabbage leaf
followed each other In succession Then pastry, and
then some other curious Dishes SweetmeaLs, cur
rant Jelly and thick sour cream were served be-
tween-tnat Is, one was allowed TO dip one's spoon
In the dishes Of these things which remained on the
table. The last dish Of all was tureen OF boiled
rice, In which we all dipped our spoons alternately
pote or cherries was then put before everybody and
we had done dinner according to Egyptian habits.
must confess that never In my life was more
disgusted, or 1elt more inclined to be sick, than
did during this meal. had had nothing but q cup
OF coffee IN the morning. ana the taste or these ex
traordlnary dishes, as wel the sight OF all the
nQIerS ulppeu into the dishes or thick
or dish OF preserves. and the next moment tearing
or bit OF meat or sausage from the same piece OF
which felt myself In duty bound 10 eat was really
too nasty. No wine or water was served during
dinner; so when the 0ldnde prfacesse offered me
seized mold 0! II with great delight In hope OF some
thiSg to wash down the things had been swallow
thinking 1t was water and syrup. when, to my hor-
ror, 1t proved to be some sort OF sour stun-vne-
gar, with an addition Of herbs ana cucumbers--and
amusement OF the whole party.
AFTER THE DEsSERT-THE DANCE.
We now got up from the noOr and slave then
put me into or rather handed me TO- an arm char
and brought me silver basin, very deep, and with
q small dish IN the middle fu OF holesl We were
given u bit OF soap and while rubbing our fingers
with the soap the slave poured water the whole tins
over our hands, and this ran through ut once into
the dish. We then got very smart towel, with
border richly embroidered In gold TO dry our fingers
with
Then we went again in procession to the large
drawing room or hall we hau before passed through
and here we all sat down on large dlvan. Music
was then heard aud IN marched about twenty mus-
trousers and frock coats with gold buttons, &C.
quite European, the musicians being all girls thus
dressed out The music was not famous flutes, a
coupe OF cornets a violin aud a gutar-still they
played rather nicely. though the tunes were not
very pleasing TO the ear. About fourteen
yellow satin, embroidered win silver and
others In black satiu embroidered with gold. They
al M wore bodies OF silver gauze, with belt Of gold
monds and precious stones hanging DOWN In front
Their dance was more curious than pretty. though
some movements were graceful enough. Others, ON
tfe contrary were SIMPLY frightlul. For instance,
they had way OF moving and shaking their heads
and other parts OF their bodies all separately as II
no one part belonged to the other parts, which was
quite m0nstrous. These poor girls danced la this
manner for nearly two hours and when we expressed
some pity Tor them we were answered. .'Uh tney
are never tired. They dance ike this for five
hours ut q time" Tney looked. however. much ex-
hausred and one seemed very nearly fantng.
COFFEE, CUPS AND DIAMONDS.
While this dancing was going on coffee was served
several times. slave M brought IN tray covered
wide, all embroidered with pearls and enormous un-
cut emeralds, and In the middle one enormous dla-
mond star quite five inches wide. The cover was
lifted on and under 1t were small cups ike egg
cups, which were filed with coffee and handed round
one by one by a slave another slave following and
Offering one Of their long Turkish pipes set with dla
m0nds, cigarette with most beautiful holder
all one mass OF precious stones the mouthpece il
self beng one large ruby or emerald Inc cups. too,
were mass OF diamonds.
We found the Old Princess, who had not accom-
patlieu up WdltuB LOT us DeIOV. JHefE
nat down in the same way as We had zone before
and music and dancing again began, only new sci
OF slaves had taken the place OF the former ones.
did not see single really pretty face, and hardly
even good looking one among them. However
they told us that there are couple of pretty ones
but for some reason or other they were not allowed
TO show to-day. Altogether there are about 500
slaves in this harem and about twenty OF them were
always standing at u short distance from our chairs
wherever we went. They were dressed In the mos:
ridiculous and tasteless manner, In the European
fashion, but no two alike. One had bright yellow
dress with a green velvet jacket; another green
velvet skirt with a red or Due jacket; and on.
Some had ndeouS round hats with fright flowers
and tcaners some had beads IN Their hair In short.
tney were dressed In the most vulgar IL IL
possible to imagine. great man had diamond
ornaments. earrings and breaches. ana few had
the Niceroys picture set IN diamonds their
shoulder. Coffee was served very often.
A save carrying the tray stopped IN the middle
OF the ROOM just In 'front.' oil s, While another car
rted the coffee pot hanging Oy tDree long SILVER
chains over sort OF lamp, just like the censers
used Catholic churches Another slave lifted on
ana poured coffee into the small, diamond cups
which were again handed to us, each cup by q dit
1erent slave; me one with the Tray standing the
whole time In the middle Of the room Till the empty
cups were replaced.
TOILETS AND JEWELS.
The dresses which tine Prncesses wore to-day were
splendid, as lar as jewels 90. one had ON q whitt
more antique dress, richly embroidered nearly al
over, with gold; another had on red one and blue
and gray were worn by The younger ones, ri
equally embroidered.
Thc shape OF their dress was very old; It seemed
formed long tram. The skirt was open about
two feet on each SIDE showing Their legs and feet
wrapped up IN some soft, wnite material or other
The train IN front passed behind, and their walk
In consequence Of ali this anything but grace
| Iui; for, having THIS thick, heavy gown between
their legs they could only wadde along ike ducks
Their hair was done In the European fashion, bui
with enormous tiaras OF coronets, very heavy,
though splendid with precious stones on their heads
one really more beautiful tnan another. Necklaces
too, with diamonds as big as a shining piece, and
drops OF diamonds cut round ike crystals and quite
! enormous. Each had a ring OF u single diamond,
with no setting to be seen 8L all That 0 the old
Princess was SO large that she could only wear II on
| the middle finger. 1 should think IL was about an
inch wide; but thought itmore curious than pretty.
| Each wire wore belt about three inches wide, all
set quite close with very large diamonds and uncut
| emeralds and rubes. | never saw anything equal
to il; gold setting to be seen al all, only these
| beautiful stones.
| They mad also the viceroy's picture on the left
shoulder set IN enormous diamonds; yet IN spite OF
/ all this 1nery and luxury, would rather be the
poorest peasant woman, working for my bread, thar
| one or these miserable creatures.
ROYAL CHIT oHAr-JEAiousY AID sQUABBLEs.
They were all perfectly enchanted with the
| Princess. The young Prince, who speaks Frenci
most perfectly, acted 1.-The interpreter tue wno
mo am 4 al IL liant l..t