The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1881-11-30
FOR THE LADIES.
The Pashn's Hnrem, TanGier.

The Haal0H ffnfenUs lHnHltEs
Mrs. Lizzie ". Cnampney writes as
follows in the Century Magazine for
November
We had brought an interpreter, and
knowing that European ladies were
sometimes allowed to visit the harem
Of his eminence, we commissioned our
man of words to request this favor.
The pasta, q handsome man of ap-
~parently sixty years of age, stepped
from an arched doorway, and, with
many flint and hutter Of his volumin-
Gus muslin draperies, seated himself on
the uncovered divan at the upper end
of the apartment. We rose and made
& salam respectfully, and Antonio, our
courier, made known our petition,
adjoining it with many flowers OF his
own Imagination. The distinguished
guests before him, he informed the
pasta, were Of the highest nobility of
America, intimate friends OF Generals
Grant and Washington-the only
two Americans, doubtless, with
whose tie pasta was familiar.
Our request was granted, and the
lady friend of Washington was led
away by a diminu'ive Aublan
in the direction OF the saraglio. |
entered q beautiful court, surrounded
by p]orticoes supported by antique pill
lars dug from Roman ruins, and used
in the construction Of this palace just as
tho Cordovan Moors utilized the col
nmns Of the Caesars in their mosque.
\ 4 A fountain occupied the center
of the tile paved court, an old woman
was praying devout!y upon a rug beside
it, while from al alcove across the
court issued the musical voices of the
ladies of the pasha. Elegantly dressed
in Eastern fashion, in purple, green
and gold vests, brocsde caitans and
variegatel s~carfs, with silk handker-
chiefs knosted about their black braids,
they were seated upon a raised divan
and engaged in sitting cornmeal,
Which lay piled in golden drifts upon q
sheet stretched across the floor. They
received me cordially, q slave bringing
q European chair for me to sit upon.
Our medium of conversation was a little
broken Spanish and a copious use of
the sign language. A beautiful little
boy Of three came and regarded me
wondering!y. His head was shaved,
with the exception OF g spot behind
one ear, from which depended a single
curl the lock of youth Of Egypt; TO
keep the equilibrium two large hoop
earrings, adorned with q single tur"
quoise, were inserted in the opposite
ear. His name, they told ne, was
Selim. He received a coin with sub
lime indifference, and continued his
Inspection OF the strange lady's CO.'S
tune. The pasha's harem consisted of
ladies Of varying ages. Hero were
wrinklcd croncs-his matrimonial opt
fit at the beginning of his uxorious Ca
reer-comfcrtable women in the prime
of life, devoted to smoke and sweet
meats, and the odalisque Of sixteen,
already two years a wife. They pitied
the lonely life in a "harem of ore"
md felt a strong sympathy for the poor
American wives, with nc sister favoritcs
to share their solitude and aid them
about their household affairs. IN this
princely house, where there vas food
and tinery enough for all, the hevy Of
wives seemed to live together with a
merry good fellowship, but we heard
of poorer families where the state Of
affairs was not so paraIisaical. On the
occasion of a new addition to the serag-
Ito, the elder wives are stripped OF
their iaWelrT to bedeck the bride, and
loud is tue cry of lamentation-Ba-
doura bcwailing her bangles, and
Zumroud weeping for her ank'
lets. Ono of the favorites took me
by the hand and led me over the
building.-to the pssha's own apartment,
sumptuous with decorated ceiling and
rich carpets, to their own palmer room,
and to the neglected garden, where my
guide filled my hands with flowers from
the tangled bushes which had covered
the walks, and where the bees found
the honey with which they had filled
the hollow CAPITALS Of some carved col
umns OF the arcade. On bidding aaieu
to the ladies, they exerted themselves
with enc accord to prevent my depart
ure; the chair was brought forward, /
was pushed toward it with gentle insist
ence, and had quite to tear myself away.
As I crossed the pavement, their inten-
ton was explained by the appearance Of
q small Nubian, who darted before re
clashing together q pair of tiny coffee
cups, decorated with q red and gold
arabesque ornamentation, which gave
them a resemblance to Kaga ware. A
delicious odor OF coffee aided the ex-
PLANTATION; they wished me to remain
and partake of refreshments. Not wish
ing to keep the party in the Hall of
Judgment longer waiting, and hardly
knowing whether it would be yetiqrettc,
as it would certainly not be kindness,
to eat and drink in their presence dur
ing their time of fasting, | declined
their courtesy and took my leave.