, 1880-09-06
Ladies' Party in Persia.

Ladies rarity IN Fersla.
1 had been invited by the wife of the
chief banker of Shiraz to spend day
with her and a party of ladies at q vii
lage about five miles from the city
was conducted into the pres
ence of my hostess, and, after grand
ceremony of bowing and endless flow
cry speeches, we all sat down on very
soft cushions, embroidered with gold
thread (such thing as a chair was mol
to be seen). After little conversation,
cloth was spread on the carpets, and
dishes, containing all the varieties Ol
sweets for which the country is famous,
we're arranged in long rows. l may
mention rhubarb was cut in thin slices
and eaten with salt, quite raw. Melon
seeds, salted, were also very plentiful,
and pistachio nuts were strewn
over most dishes. Several sorts
of skerbet, with Jumps of snow, we're
handed round, and, at intervals, the
kalian, or water-pipe, made its appear
ance, and the ladies took frequent
draws at it. The guests having eaten
as many Of the sweets as they felt in
O4AA0As OoACAuAAy sAC0 uR oOLAO AAoAo AZ
a small cloth, ready for eating from
time to time. We then entered into q
very lively conversation, chiefly con-
sisting in my answering the numerous
questions as to my dress, the cost OF it,
the way my husband treated me, what
money l had, etc. One elderly lady
advised me when wanted new dress
to wait until my husband came in for
his dinner, and then to ask for it. If
not granted, to scream and cry until
the hungry man gave permission. This
is, 1 believe, what many Of them do;
but I fancy it has not always the de-
sired effect. They questioned me very
closely as to the mode of punishment
adopted by husbands to their wives !;
they, most of them, had had very init
mate relations with stick, and hardly
believed my denial that my case was
not so. Another lady expressed great
surprise at my being able to read and
write Persian. She wondered what use
it could possibly be to woman, as the
payment of small sum to a scribe
would get letter far better written. l
said: But suppose you should want
to write something You did not wish
every one to hear about r This, she
thought, was not likely, as everything
is openly discussed before servants, and
by them carried to the bazaars. The
entrance of q Jew and his son, playing
on guitar, interrupted our chat, and
We listened for an hour to some of the
odes of Haflz, after which a collection
was made, and the iberality or stingi-
ness of each freely commented upon.
Our hostess wore q bright-red satin
skirt, richly embroidered with gold
lace; it was very full and short, barely
reaching to her knees; loose jacket of
blue velvet, also much trimmed-this
time with silver lace; the sleeves were
made of cashmere shawl, buttonea by
about twenty small steel buttons. She
wore several necklaces, most of them
very massive, and studded with fine
On her head she wore
white shawl, with band of jewels
round her forehead, and at one side
large pearl star. She had on both arms
at least dozen bracelets-some hand
some ones. some only bands of colored
glass. Her feet were covered with
Sooio DC WA1tc bOChS, ucI SuOcS SIcou
leather, with scarlet heels. Some of the
ladies wore bright red trousers, reach
ing to the ankle; but this was quite tho
exception. They wear long veil,
from head to foot, generally
made of some smart print or muslin.
[ d.. ought to mention that every lady
wore a small leather case round her
neck, containing some earth from Mecca
md verses from the Koran. The faces
If my hostess and friends were much
decorated, the eyebrows broadened and
;arried quite across the nose. Some
lad small designs tattooed on the
,heeka The hair is very long and |
'hick, generally dyed red; it is worn |
plated, in many thin tails, twisted with |
gold thread. The hands are we'll
shaped, but nails and palms are stained |
/ dark red.