Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-03-24
An Interview with the Bey Of TuuIs.


The Bey's domestic life is as simple and
uninteresting as that of an old European
bachelor He is called a woman -hater
and has lived apart from his wife for
many years. He is very religious man.
and says his prayers with regularity.
Having very little state business to
transact, he has time to crafty his taste
for photography, IN which he has become
an expert. l was presented to the Bev
IN his summer palace at Goletta. Os-
trlches roamed at will over the palace
grounds; aids-de camp, many of them
mere boys, were lounging around on the
divans of the broad Seranda, while
guards in red and gold uniforms. armed
with long halberds, solemnly paced up
and down in front of the gate. After
waiting a few minutes, nv COM
panion. the Austrian Consul General. and
myself were ushered into the presence
of the Bey. The reception room was
furnished in Partisan style. His High
ness, who was seated on a low throne near
one of the windows, rose to receive us.
made three steps forward, greeted the
Consul very cordially, and shook hands
with me, and then invited us both to
take seats. Although he is about sixty-
seven years old, his beard and NOUS
tache were black. He wore the uniform
of a Tunisian General dark military
coat with gold lace and heavy epaulettes:
red trousers with gold stripes; a sHassSG
(red fez), on which was fastened a heavi-
ly jewelled clasp, that sparkled with the
arms of the Husseinites; and, finally. a
cimeter, with a very costly iewelled
hilt, that hung suspended from the
shoulder by gold band. When
in full uniform, as, for example.
on the last day of Rhamadan, or on
the occasion of the reception of
newly accredited ambassadors the Bev
wears the insignias of about thirty
grand crosses, among them those Of
the highest orders of England. France
and Germany, which his then Prime
Minister, Mustaphaben lsmail. also DOS
sesses. The latter, the adopted son of
the Bey, stood near the throne, for no
Tunisan subject may sit in the presence
of royalty. The dragoman stood be-
tween the Bey and us, the Bey speaking
in Arabic and the dragoman interpreting
in French. He asked me what l Thought
of his country, and wished to know
what parts had made the greatest impress
sion upon me. | doubt whether the
dragoman correctly interpreted my re-
plies, for the Bey nodded his head with
an air of complete satisfaction. He had
not seen much of his own country. the
only long journey he had ever made
beng to Zaghouan, while he was vet a
young man. The audience lasted a long
time Being accustomed to the manners
of European courts, where the visi-
tor remains in the presence of the mon
arch until he himself gives the sign to
l waited patiently. The Be7
looked at me in a crave manner, and so
did | at him. The situation seemed
very embarrassing. The Consul who
sat just behind me, at last succeeded in
giving me sign to rise, as people are
not permitted to speak to each other in.
the presence of the Bey. rose, and. AZ
the same moment, the Bey came down
from his throne. From the Prime Min
lister he took the star of his order and
fastened it on my breast. At my request
he also gave me his photograph, beneath
which he wrote his autograph, remark
ing that | was the first who had ever OBJ
tanned the latter favor. With that the
audience terminated Afterward I
learned that visitors may stay as long as
they please at the Bey's court, and that
the less they say the more fashionable
they are considered.