Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1871-07-22

AN AFRICAN iIABES.r-A writer in
lthe Cornhill Magh zinc descrbus Il visit
which he once made, with Dr.. Livingstone,
to the harem of q Priucc fonc ofthe Com
orc Islands. He says:
After inviting us 10 be seated, the Prince
left us, in order to apprise his wives ofuur
arrival. He went out of Il doorway cover
ed dy danask hanging, which, we pre-
sumo, led to the ludics' apartments. He
returned in a few minutes, ard with him
came, not wife, but little Malay woman,
but full of vivaciy. Her sharp, shrill
voice, rang through the room when she an
nounccd that the ladies' would soon appcor.
She was evidently the ianitrcss of the
harcm, and the Prince seemed to be much
IN awe OF her. She was born at CANE
Town, bnt had many years ago mlrrietlh
johanna man. She spoke English vcrv
impcrtcctly, bit Dutch like Dutch lander;
and when She found that DR.. Livingstone
could speak that language, her plcasrrc
was so demonstrative l Thought she won!d
have embraced him.
a curtain was withdrawn, and, standing
in row on either side of the passage, we
saw number of little slave girls. some Of
whom were gaily dressed. Then there
came from ~ room at The end Of q passage
'
whose face was oulY saved from being
commonplace by her large and really
beautiful eyes. Her appearance rs she en-
tered the room was dazzling. The bodice
of her dress was OF cloth of gold the short
skirt was of Indian muslin, claboratcly
worked with gold and silver thread; her
drawers were Of the slai material and
similarly oruamcntcd. Her naked 'YtcJ
were slipped into rchly-adorned sandals.
andou her hair she wore purple velvet tt7-
shaped cap that was retuigent with gold
lace and jewels. Round her waist she had
Il .icwelcd zone, and round her neck '.jcw-
els of silver and jewels Of goll'' were mul-
tipled in Il barbarous profusion; she had
rings on all her fingers, she wore bracelets,
arm!ets and anklets of gold, and her ears
were strangely decorated, for not only we're
the lower lobCs perforated, but the rim Of
in stead of one .ewe!cd drop each Nar srs-
iained four or five.
The first effect produced on ne by this
protuse display OF personal ornametatian
was anaZcmGnt, and then the aOsurditt Of
it appeared so great that it was difficult
to refrain from laughter. Yet we could
not help being pleased with the woman
who had taken so much pains with herself
to please us; and she came forward to shake
hands, which she did rather awkwardly.
we bowed our lowest and smiled our swcst-
est TO her succeeded tall, finely built,
very handsome woman of about twenty
years of age. Her figure was perfect the
grace of her carriage was f;tultlcss, and her
large black eyes were 50 lustrOus they
seemed to flash light.
With the first lady thn'rchucss of cost
umc was most prominent, but with this
woman the beauty Of her person far out
shore the maguiliccucc OF her attire. She
was dressed and ornamcuted with sulw
slight variation, like unto her sistor-wi.o,
to whom, indeed, she was rSally sister,
for the Prince informed us that they wcru
the Children not only ofthe same father but
but By the same mother. She moved to-
ward us like en-scll-possosscd and
gracious; and thought she had not the
manner ola European lady, the mode OF
her hand shaking was unimpeachabc. a
few moments elapsed before the third
wife presented herself Her appearance
WAS Insignificant, her features oXpr, Ssio"
less; her eyes lacked lustre, her form,
though not angular, was spare and desN.
tulc of all grace; her movements were awk-
ward, and though dressed not lcFs granalF
than the others, her costume appeG red less
rcsplendcut