The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1871-08-19
AN AFRICAN IaAREaI.
AS Seen by One OF Dr. Living
stones Travelling Companions.

It had been arranged that We should
stay a few days at Johanna, and whel
the prince heard of the intended sojourl
he said, "Ah you have been to see til,
g king; now come and see me. Will yol
Gomez"
'Prince. you are such churlish set o
people with respect to your women.
we visit your houses we see men only
now If you come to our houses we shoulC
introduce you to the ladies of the house
holds" / ventured to remark.
"Ah, yes, know your custom Will
women is different from ours" said he
Every nation has its own custom. Wha
is good for one may not be good for an
other. Your custom is very good fol
you, perhaps. Custom is good for US
that we know. But | am a man-that has
seen many things and many places, and
[ have not the prejudices which some o.
my people have and if you will do mC
the honor of paying me a visit, you shall
see my wives Now, will you come ?
"Uuder such circumstances, certainly,
said DR.. Livingstone, and the visit wa:
arranged for the next day but one.
At the day appointed the prince came
off to the ship in order to take US on
shore in his own boat. He was arrayed
in magnificent dress Of bright blue
silk, oruamented with gold lace, and he
was evidently in a delightful state of
self consciousness. DIR. Livingstone, two
I other gentlemen, and myself were ready
to accompany him. When we gained the
shore, we found that the news of our pro
posed visit to the princes harem had be-
come known to many, and there was a
considerable assemblage of slaves and
the poorer half castles to greet and to fol-
low US. This demonstration may have
been arranged by the prince; he certain
ly was we'll pleased with it; and he
marched ahead of us though a person of
greater importance than the king him
self. could not help thinking, as We
went on our way, that the sentiment with
which he regarded the king was far from
loyal.
/ The princes establishment consisted Of
group of buildings surrounded by a
stone wall. One of the houses was much
! larger than the rest, and to this we we're
taken. After passing through desolate
looking ante room, we entered an apart
ment about forty feet square, but though
its proportions were noble, its appear
ance was not attractive. The furniture
was scanty, mean, and much worn the
chintz that covered the couches was. ia
ied, and the glasses that hung on the
whitewashed walls were, with one excep-
ton, cracked the floor was uncarpeted.
This was the princes own apartment, and
this probably accounted for the poverty
of its appearance. Each wife has her
own chamber, and, as the greater part of
her dowry is expended upon the deeora-
ting and furnishing of it, the princes
room probably afforded no naturalization
of the character of his whole establish
ment Here it was, however, we were to
have audience of the ladies.
| After inviting US TO bs~seated, the
prince left us, in order to apprise his
wives of our arrival. He returned in
few minutes, and with him came, not
wife, but little Malay woman, old and
shriveed, but full of viyaeity. Her
sharp, shrill voice rang through the room
when she announced that the ladies
would soon appear. She was evidently
the janitress of the harem, and the prince
seemed to be much in awe of her. She
was born at Cape Town, but had many
years ago married johanna man. She
spoke English very imperfectly, but
Dutch like Dutchlander; and, when
she found that DIR. Livingstone could
speak that language, her pleasure was so
demonstrative thought she would have
embraced him. 1t seemed greatly to
cheer her old heart to hear once more
the most ugly of all languages. She
asked a multiplicity of questions about
Cape Town. She ratified away at the
highest pitch of her voice until her ex-
element fairly broke her down then she
seemed to recollect herself, and, with a
kind of chuckle, said, "Now l will
send in the ladies'" and run off with
quite youthful agility.
After-she had retired, the prince. who
was evidently excited aud somewhat
nervous, said, "My wives say l must tell
you little custom we have whenever
strangers are introduced to them. When
they come in, they will each one of them
come to each of you, and you will have
to 90 through a little ceremony each of
you with each of them. Oh, it is not
much, it is not what you think" he con
tinued, with a shrewd smile. at is only |
this Each of them will hold in her
hand little bit of bread, and each of
you will break off a small piece from
each, and eat it. That done, we are
friends-always friends"
We expressed qualification and ready |
The ladies not appearing,
he disappeared behind the curtain again,
but quickly returned. The curtain was
then withdrawn, and, standing in row
on either side of the passage, we saw
number of little slave girls, some of whom
we're gaily dressed. Then came from a
room at the end of the passage, a stout
lady of about twenty FIVE years of age,
whose face was only saved from being
place by her large and really
beautiful eyes. Her appearance as she
entered the room was dazzling. The
bodice of her dress was of cloth OF gold;
the short skirt was of Indian muslin.
worked with gold and silver
thread; her drawers were of the same
and similarly ornamented. Her
naked feet were slipped into richly
adorned sandals, and on her head she
wore purple velvet fez shaped cap that
was refulgent with gold lace aud jewels.
Round her waist she had jeweled zone,
md round her neck 'jewels of silver and
ewels of gold" were multiplied in bar
oarous profusion she had rings on all
her fingers, she wore bracelets, armlets,
ind anklets of gold; and her ears were
strangely decorated, for not only were
he lower lobes perforated, bus the rim
If each ear was pierced In several places,
md Instead of one jeweled drop, each
,ar sustained four or FIVE. The first
fleet produced on me by this profuse
iisniav of nersonal ornamentatlon was