, 1880-04-26
A Turkish Lady's Palace.


ex-KLedive of Egypt, is said to be one
of the most intelligent and wealthy of
Turkish women. She lives in hand
some palace on the Bosporus, where
Mrs Heap, wife of our consul general,
lately visited her. A correspondent of
the Philadelphia Telegraph thus de-
scribes the incidents of the call
On alighting from the carriage, Mrs.
Heap and the four ladies accompanying
her were met at the door by some half
dozen men-cavasses, grooms and eu
nuchs-brilliantly dressed.
These escorted the party through the
selamlik, or mems apartments, which,
in this case, the lady being widow,
are rather bare.
They consisted of four or five rooms.
A long corridor, softly carpeted, and
whose numerous windows overlooked
. fine garden, led to the women's rooms,
or haremilk.
The door was opened by two hand
some Circassian girls, who led the Ia
dies in, followed by couple of eu
nuchs.
A magnificent hall was entered, square
in shape, with two alcoves, one of which
was like an enormous bay window, in
closed on all sides by plate-glass.
This room was furnished in true
Oriental style. Divans of crimson
damask lined the gaily y-colored walls.
an elegant buhl center table stood on
the rich rug that covered the floor, and
. number of little walnut tables in
tricately inlaid with mother of pearl
cleaned in the sunlight that streamed
through the numerous windows.
Women of every age and color we're
grouped about chatting and lsughing,
but the arrival of the " Franks silenced
them.
All these odalisques rose at the
visitors arrival. A hideous eunuch
brought word that his mistress was
ready to receive. and her two nieces,
daughters of Halam Pasha, came to
usher the ladies in.
These two young ladies, much rouged
and painted, were pretty in the sickly
and theatrical way common to harem
beauties. They wore composite style
of dress, half European. half Turkish.
The head-dress was turban elaborate
" embroidered and the fair Orientals
were fairy spangled with brilliants,
massive earrings and brooches. A
loose skirt and short jacket of light silk
and high-heeled embroidered slippers
completed their costume of piquant en-
semble.
Zenib Hanoun receives in regal
style. She was sitting, Or rather squat
ting, attired richly in complete Turk
ish costume on raised settee covered
with many soft cushions
After the usual interchange of COM
pliments, as manifold and ceremoAi-
GUS as in China, the lady clapped her
jeweled hands together and the doors
opened wide.
Then in came the procession, bring
ing the coffee. First entered two black
slaves, carrying on their shoulders a
carved pole from which hung by silver
chains tiny brazier of the same metal
On its glowing Goals were placed sew
eral little long-handled coffse-pots, the
aromatic Mocha, creaming and bub
bling, and diffusing delicious odor
through the apartment
These stood motionless. Then four
others, bearing an immense silver tray,
from which hung to the floor rich
silk towel, studded with precious stones
and embroidered in gold thread.
Several other females entered, and
each took from the tray small coffee
cup-holder, or "zaf," placed thereon
the cup filed with coffee, and, kneel-
ing before each visitor presented it to
them.
Mrs. Heap then noticed that her and
the other ladies' zaffs were of gold
filagree work, and literally, in the
bright sunlight, blazing with brilliants
in elaborate designs of birds and flow
eIS.