The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-11-07
A Tangier Harem.
An American Woman Among an Oriental
Pasha's Beauties.

Mrs Lizzie W. Champnev in Century Magazinel
We had brought an interpreter, and knowing
that European ladies were sometimes allowed
to visit the harem of his eminence, we COM
missioned our man of words to request this IA
vor. The pasha, a handsome man apparently
vi Way sf6s aid ri Ias Ias ffeBped fFapa az aEehed door;
voluminous muslin draperies, seated himself
on the rug covered divan at the upper end Of
the apartment. We rose and made salaDl
respectfully, and Antonio, our courier, made
known our petition, adorning it with many
flowers of his own imagination. The distin-
guished guests before him, he Informed the
pasha, were of tho highest nobility of America,
intimate friends of Gen. Grant and Washing
ton-the only two Americans, doubtless, with
whose names the pasha was familiar. Our
request was granted, and the lady friend OF
Washington was led away by diminutiye
Nubian in the direction of the seraglio. en-
tered beautiful court, surrounded by porticos
supported by antique pillars dug from Roman
ruins, and used in the construction Of this pal
ace Just as the Cordovan Moors utilized the
columns of the Caesars in the construction Of
their mosque.
A fountain occupied the centre of the tile
paved court an old woman was praying de.
voutly upon a rug beside it, while from an al
cove across the court issued the musical voices
of tho ladies of the pasha. Elegantly dressed
in Eastern fashion, in purple, green and gold
vests, brocade caftans and varisGated scarfs
with silk handkerchiefs knotted about their
black braids, they were seated upon raised
divan and Ell gagged in sitting corn-meal, which
lay piled in golden drifts upon sheet stretched
across the floor. They received me cordially,
slave bringing European chair for me to sit
upon Our medium of conversation was lit
tie broken Spanish and copiOus use OF the
sign language. A beautiful little boy of three
came and regarded me wonderingly His
head was shaved, with the exception OF spot
behind one ear, from which depended single
curl-the lock of youth of Egypt; to keep the
equilibrium two large hoop earrings, adorned
with single tuquoise, were Inserted IN the
opposite ear. HIS name, they told me- was
Selim. He received coin with sublime indif-
ference and continued his inspection OF the
strange lady's costume. The pasha's harem
consisted of ladies of varying ages Here were
wrinked crones-h:s matrimonial outfit at the
beginning of his uxorioUs career-comfortaDle
women in the prime of life, devoted to smoke
and sweetmeats, and the odalisque OF 16, al
ready two years wife. They pitied the lone
ly life in 'harem of one" and felt strong
sympathy for the poor American wives, with
no sister faVOrltes to snare Gnelr SOiltuuo anu
aid them about their household affairs In this
princely house where there was food and fnery
enough for all, the bevy 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 paradisaieal, On the occa-
sion al a ,see addition TO the eeragiio. the elder
wives arc striPPsa q NSsr As%%SAFg % te SsS
Badoura bewailing her bangles, and Zumroud
weeping for her anklets One of the favorites
took me by the hand and led me over the build
ing-to the Pasha's own apartment, sumptuous
with decorated ceiling and rich carpets to
their own palmer rooms andto the neglected gar
den; where my guide filed my hands with
flowers from the tangled bushes which had
covered the hollow capitals OF tome
ONE carved columns of the arcadcs.
On bidding adeu to the ladies they exerted
themselves with one accord to prevent my de-
parture the chair was brought forward, L was
pushed toward it with gentle insistence and
had quite to tear myself away. As L crossed
the pavement their intention was explained
bv the appearance of small Nubian who
darted before me clashing together pair OF
tiny coffee-cups decorated with red and gold
arabesque ornamentation, which gave them
resemblance to Kaga ware. A delicious odor
of coffee aided the explanation; they wished
me to remain and partake OF refreshments
Not wishing to keep the party in the hall OF
Judgment longer waiting, and hardly knowing
whether it would be etiquette, as 1t certainly
would not be kindness to eat and drink IN
their presence during their time of fasting,
declined their courtesy and took nay leave.