Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1879-10-09
Shipping II Harem.

No sooner was the abdication, or rather
the deposition, of the late Khedivc of Egypt
accomplished than orders were given for
the royal yacht to be prepared with all
speed to convey him and his family beyond
the shores of Egypt. No particular resi-
dence was indicated, and having u beauti-
full and spacious palace at Constantinoplc,
his Highness naturally wished to occupy
his own property in Turkey; but hostile
councils prevailed, and the Sutton re-
fused to sanction this arrangement. The
khedive's mother has palace at Rhodes,
and it was thought they might all go there
Smyrna, too, was spoken of, but at the last
moment Naples was fixed on, in which
neighborhood the late King of Italy made
over property to the Khedive in part pay
ment of large sum of money advanced
some years since. On every account il
was desirable that the late Khcdive should
leave the country at an early moment, and
no one can complain of his departure being
unduly delayed. The deposition was was
officially made known at three p. m. on
Thursday, June 2G, and in exactly four
days-namely, at three p. IN. on Monday
the 3Oth-the eX-monarch was an exile.
Since Friday all hands have been at work
on the Mahronssa, perhaps the finest yacht
in the world. Having taken in a stock of
Goals, stores and provisions, the yacht was
ready to receive the first detachment Of the
khedivial harem at eight a. III. the follow
ing Monday morning. They arrived from
Cairo by special train. and sent on board in
steam launches and Darges. Most of the
ladies wore suitable travelling European
costumes, with light and elegant
wells, or apologies for ''yashmahs but
the servants of different grades wore the
tarha and khatara of the ordinary make.
The styles of beauty were as varied as the
toilets. Some of the ladies had hair and
compilations as fair as those of English wo-
men. Others were Of the Spanish type,
with black hair and eyes. Except among
the servants, none seemed over twenty-five
years OF age; but there pervaded among
them all a listless and vacant look, as of
beings with no occupation or aim in life.
All the morning there was an incessant
hurrying to and fro of boats with baggage
and household goods, until at two p. m.
another special train arrived with the Sec
ond and larger portion of the harem. In
this l counted nine baTges or boats between
the shore and the yacht, each containing
from six to eight women. Perhaps some
of these did not go in the ship, but were
friends who afterward returned to Cairo /:
and many were merely ''helps," in whom
beauty was conspicuous by its absence. -
Then came Ismail Pasha's three lawful
wives. The fourth, the mother of Prince
Tewfik, the present Viceroy, remains at
Cairo near her son. The scenes at the
Cairo railway station between those men,
bers of the harem who were going, and
those who were staying behind, are said to
have been heart-rending, and it was with
much difficulty that the train could be start
ed. Although their life is one of seclusion
and confinement, they are accustomed to
every comfort and l doubt if at Cairo
any of the harem had the least idea of their
future residence; all they knew was, they
they were leaving their friends and sur
roundings to be landed in some strange
country across the sea.