The Northern Pacific farmer., 1882-10-26
THE PRINCESS ELMINEH.
The Wicked Career of the Wealthiesl
Woman in Egypt.

lowing history of the Princess Elminel
of Egypt, who, as was indicated in recen
dispatches, encouraged Arab Pasha witt
money and sympathy in rebelling asains
the khedive and in continuing th
struggle until completely annihilated BY
the British:
The Princess Elmineh, sister of tn,
late khedive, is the richest and mos
noted woman in the east, has great in
nuence with the fellah population, ant
hers is one of the prettiest, and is Ger
tainly the richest of the palaces of Cairo
She is the largest landowner in Egypt
and having received a European educa
ton, makes good use of her income. Sht
is not what the French call "passes," be-
ing little over forty years old, and the
hot Egyptian sun, combined with life
of dissipation and unstrained enjoyment
have played havoc with one who, ten
years ago, was call "the Star of the east ,
Egyptian, like Turkish women
are married by their parents without
their wishes ever being consulted, So
that, as a rule there is no pretense OF
| love or even sympathy between them
THUS was the Princess Elmineh, at the
age Of sixteen, given away to Turkish
pasha, noted only for his wealth and dis
honesty, being old, ugly and ignolant.
The wedding took place in Constantine
pie, where the dowry of the princess was
estimated at $50 100000.
| The princess received liberal educ:,-
ton; she speaks three European langu-
ages, plays the piano, sings well, and is
in most respects an accomplished lady.
and in thirty days she had seen enough
| oi her husband to despise him and to
treat him >ith contempt. No Turk dare
enter his Wiie's private apartment if she
reverses her overshoes, which every
Turkish woman wears, and leaves them
outside her door, and the Princess Elni-
noh availed herself Of this privilege dur
ing the two months she remained in
Constantinople. At the expiration OF
the winter at Cairo, whittier she went,
accompanied by her husband, and where
she has remained ever since. Immedi-
atcly on arriving in Egypt she laid her.
self at the feet of the khedive, telling
him that she preferred death to living
with her husband, who was in every re-
spect her inferior, and begged him to
protect her. AS She was favorite Of
his, he appointed her husband to the
generul-ship OF So,mkin, on the Red Sea-
and as he never arrived there it is pre-
sumeu that he was poisoned by the way,
this beinr the ordinary method by which
the khedives have from time to time
silenceu their foes. The princess, hav-
ing thus freed herself, commenced life
which for romance, cruelty, prohigacy,
adventure and dissipation has not often
been surpassed. The old Shoubra pal
ace, extending from the Shoubra road to
the Nile, was pulled down and the pre-
sent magnificent structure erected in its
stead, containing eighty rooms, all of
which are decorated and furnished in
the most extr;.vagant fashion. Shortly
after the princess had taken possession
of this seraglio many curious and incre-
dlbl le rumors were af1oat in Cairo, which
at the time were only whispered, but
which subsequent events proved to be
true.
dive u handsome young Swiss officer
named Coll, who had been in the pope's
Swiss guard, and the princess, happen
ing to see him one day on duty became
enamoreh of him, and next day asked
the khelive to transfer him to her SER
wee, which he did The main gate to
her palace was then pulled down and
over large arch way beautiful Swiss
chalet was built. Lieut. Coll took pos.
session Of it as the princess master of
ceremonies. From hat time they seemed
inScparable; wherever the princess
went young Coll accompanied her, and
those who called to pay their homage to
the great El1nineh were introduced by
him. He had the management of all
her estates, became enormously wealthy
and IN u short time developed into
pnblic character. He went to Switzer-
Ianl one summer, and returned accom-
panied by his sister, who became the
princess companion, a unique position
for a Christian to occupy. About four
years after this it was rumored that Coll
had formed an attachment for Il French
actress named Ernestine Leduc, and
those of his friends who knew the Eyyp-
tians well, advised him to be eau
tious, as their vengeance was terrible.
llc however paid little or no attention to
the warning. Coll suddenly disappeared,
same time Ernestine Laduc was found
strang,ed in her apartment Inquiries
were made about him in Cairo, and the
princess offered 5000 for information
that might lead to his recovery, although
she caused the rumor to be spread that
he had murdered Ernestine and fled.
Ten days later the banks of the Nile
oyerilowed, and the 1nutilated body of
young Coll was deposited by its waters
in q field adjoining the palace. The
hands and feet were tied together, the
eyes had been torn from their sockets
and the heart had been pierced through
and through The Swiss consul demand
cd an inquiry, which, like most pro-
ceedings of this sort in the east, was
wholly formality, Coils sister was nev.
er again seen in Egypt though, she sub
sequently appeared in Brrne, her ,l;,.
tive town, where she lives, but when
asked about her brother she is wont tc
say that the subject is too painful 70,
conversation
During tho following seven years Cairo
was startled by frequent disappearances
OF young gentlemen belonging to the
best native EurODean families, and these
remained unexplained until the follow.
ing incident occurred: A young Austri.
an doctor named Canelli had been ir
Cairo about IL year. He had been q mil
besides being a thorough master of his
professiou, was handsome, gay and dash
ing. One evening as he was driving on
the Shoubra road, the fashionable prom.
enade and drive in Cairo, he saw veied
Turkish lady making signs to him from
her carriage. He mentioned this to a
friend, who told him it must have been
the princess Elmineh and that be had
better avoid her. Soon after that, and
at short intervals, DR.. Canelli received
numerous gifts from an unknown bene-
factor. They took the shape of flowers,
fruit, jewels and even horses and car
riages, and he was at loss to know
whence they came. About II o'clock
one night, as he was preparing to retire,
he heard a carriage rattle into his yard
at break-neck pace, and minute late
his servant appeared before him accom-
panied by an elegantly attired eunuch
who said that his master, Kiamil Pasha
had suddenly taken ill, and that he
had a carriage waiting for the
doctor down stairs. Us not
moment was to be lost DR.. Canel]
dressed, rushed down stairs and jumped
into the carriage. After going some
distance the vehicle stopped, the doo1
was opened, and the eunich, who up tc
then had been sitting by the coachrnan,
antarQf} on1 Of %1o