Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-02-14
IN EGYPT.
of a State Reception In the
Khedfve's Harem.

Description of a State Reception In the
Khedfve's Harem.
The following extract from private
letter describes the State Reception of
the Harem of the khedive Of Egypt On
the occasion of the recent Kurban
Balram, the great Mohammedan feast
of the year:
This morning we went with a friend
to the harem reception of Abdeen
Palace-a modern square built build.
ing, with a large central court. In
front of it the soldiers were drawn up
in line, and in the court were black
regiments, beside other soldiers, and q
military band. AS we came to the en-
trance hall some eastern ladies were
leaving the palace. Their flowing
drapery was gorgeous in color and rich
with embroidery. Their thin muslin
wells, which they seemed merely to
hold over their mouths, did not in the
least conceal their features. which
were delicate. They startled me by the
whiteness of their faces and blackness
of their eyes and eyebrows. How this
effect was produced I could not see, as
they passed us so quickly. Coming
suddenly into the subdued lights of the
vestibule, with the glowing radiance of
the dresses of 80 many ladies and at
PENDANTS, seemed like entering q tent
when flower show was displayed.
We followed our Egyptian friend up
stairs Arab ladies on the stairs and
landings everywhere as we passed.
Their costumes were always brilliant
and rich in the extreme; but we saw
nothing purely Oriental except in the
dresses of the visitors who were leaving
when we arrived. The ladies of the
palace wore mostly long flowing dresses,
loose in make and fastened with sash
rodnd the waist. In every case they
had tiny turban of the same color as
the dress, placed on the back of the
head like 8 Partisan bonnet. The
hair was almost always gathered up on
the top of the head. We passed on I'M
til we came to the reception room
of the Khedive's chief wife. Before
entering we heard an extraordinary
noise, which proved to be the singing
and playing of six slave girls. They sat
in q row, dressed alternately in orange
and violet silk. The instruments were
a double pipe held in either hand by
the performer and placed together on
the lips las in Fra Angelico's pictures),
q violin, q lutte, a sort of zithern, and two
tambourines. Two Of these girls were
very merry, and sometimes could
scarcely sing for laughing. Their sing
ing and playing sounded like strange
weird chant sung very quickly.
The Khedive's chief wife sat upon
the sofa, attired in light-greenish satin,
embroidered with gold and diamonds.
She rose to receive us with much
fricndliness, and made the usual Arab
salutation, kissing her hand and touch
ing her forehead. We were then in
vited to sit down, and coffee and Gig
arettes were handed round, and we
were all expected to drink and smoke.
A younger princess, on another sofa,
was fair, with light hair, and looked
elegant in white satin, Ornamented
with gold and diamonds. Both dresses
were made in the way have described.
1t was generally remarked that the
Jewels were few compared with last
year. The mistress Of the ceremonies
spoke French, as did one of the prin-
cesses; otherwise we heard nothing but
Arabic.
The rooms were furnished in French
style, with gliding and looking glasses
everywhere; only the beautiful Eastern
carpets showed Oriental taste. There
were two or three pictures In the room,
French, but of no particular merit.
They were hung high. as wall decora-
tons. There was no piano, and did
not see anywhere single book, or any
other sign of culture. The ladies struck
me as pleasing, gentle and dignitied;
only one looked i'll and unhappy. But
for the most part their faces were IN
sipid, and had none of that look OF IN
teligence which cultivation lends to
the dullest English woman. They all
looked very much alike upon q first
view, having generally dark complex :
ions and short noses. We saw no one
as handsome as the lady visitors we
met on entering. We stayed about
half an hour and then left. When We
re-entered the entrance. hall, sherbet
was handed to us in gold cups, wrapped
in an embroidered napkin.
After all, to Englis eyes, the palace
was a gilded prison, and the mixture
of Western with the other Eastern ways
has robbed the harem system of its
Oriental charm. Europe has come
with its gaudy silks and satius, and an
gular furniture. 1t seems hard that 1t
should not come with it's education
also.-Londo,a Times.