River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1877-02-22
In the Khediye 5 Harem.

-
In the Khediye Harem.
The following extract from a private
letter published in the London Times
describes the state reception of the
harem of the khedive of Egypt on the
occasion of the recent kurban bariam,
the great Mohammedan feast of the
year:
This morning we went with friend
to the harem reception at Abdeen pal.
ace-a modern, square-built building,
with large central court. In front
of il the soldiers were drawn up in a
line, and in the court were black reg
iments, besides other soldiers, and a
military band. As we came to the en-.
trance hall some eastern ladies were
leaving the palace. Their flowing
.drapery was gorgeous in colOrS and
rich with embroidery. Their thin
muslin wells. which they seemed mere
|ly to hold over their mouths, did cot
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 | could
not see, as they passed us. so quickly.
Coming suddenly into the subdued
lights of the vestibule, with the glow
ing radiance of the dresses of so
many ladies and attendants, seemed
like entering tent when a 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 leav-
ing as we arrived. The ladies of the
palaces wore mostly long flowing dress
es, loose in make. and fastened with
sash round the waist. In every case
they had a tiny turban of the same
color as the dress, placed on the back
of the head like a Partisan bonnet.
The hair was almost always gathered
up on the top of the head. We passed
ON till 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 row, dressed alternately in
orange and violet silk. The instru-
ments were double pipe held in either
hard by the performer and placed to-
gether on the lips (as in FGa Angelico's
pictures), a violin, flute, sort of
either, and two tambourines. Two of
these girls were very merry, and some
times could scarcely sing for laughing.
Their singing and playing sounded
like a 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
friendliness, and made the usual
Arab salutation, touching her fore
head. We were then invited to sit
down, and coffee and cigarettes were
handed round, and we were all expect
ed to drink and smoke. \ 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 gen.
orally remarked that the jewels were
few compared with last year. The
mistress of the ceremonies spoke
French, as did one of the princesses;
otherwise we heard nothing but Ara
bic.
1.-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
one room-French, but of no particular
merit. They were hung high, as wall
decorations. There was no piano, and
4 did not see anywhere a single book,
or any other sign of culture. The Ia
dies struck me as pleasing, gentle, and
digniiie1 only one looked i'll and I'M
happy. But for the most part their
faces were insipid, and had none of
that look of intelligence which culti-
walton lends to the dullest English
woman. They all looked very much
alike upon first view, having gener-
ally dark compilations 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 nap
kin.
AFTER all, to English eyes, the pal
ace was a gilded prison, and the mix
ture of western with the other eastern
Its original charm. Europe has come
with its gaudy silks and satins and
angular features. 1t seems hard that
it should not come with its education
also"