St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1888-05-19
SIX HUNDRED WIVES,

, SIX HUNDRED WIVES.
A Visit to the Harem of Solomon -Wive
Oriental Prince.
The wife of a British Indian officia
writes chatty account of visit sh
paid. some few years ago, to the harer
OF a native Prince. After some descrip
ton of the Indian city she continues
AT last we reached the palace of tn
Nizam. His Highness, we were told
was at Saifabad spending the summe
there, but we were shown through hi
palace. This is his principal residence
He has thirty-six of them in all, and t.
each of them is harem attached. Thi:
one was the headquarters, so to speak,
OF his army of wives. Fancy young
man OF twenty-four summers, as His
Highness is, having close upon six hun
dred wives!
We were escorted from the palace to
the zenana. looked about for those
beautiful women, those soft eyes and
lovely forms / had read of in books. !
longed for the sweet-smelling affairs
and perfume from burning incense, but
instead got a strong sniff of melting
butter or fat and an odor of the days
cooking. Six women were seated in
swings and slaves were rocking them
to and fro. There were others squatted
on carpets on the floor smoking hook
abs. Some were pretty, but the major
ity were ugly. One timid-lo oking girl
reminded me of the picture of Esther
in our picture gallery, only that she
did not wear that sad, unhappy look
which the picture shows.
My companion addressed her and she
then left her sewing and came to us.
She first examined my earrings, then
my bracelets. Both were of silver.
WHO gave you theme'' she asked,
pointing to these. my husband"
was my reply. Then he does not
love YOU" she said. ''See what my
master has given me-" she remarked, |
pointing to the jewelry with which she |
was loaded.
She wore large round earrings OF
gold, with alternate diamonds and en-
eralds and a cluster of pearls formed
the center. Her nose was smothered
with round gold ornament. set with
rubies, diamonds. emeralds and pearls,
while from the tip of her nasal organ
huge emerald was suspended. Her
:hroat was almost hidden with a trip
Die necklace of alternate pearls and
the former the size of small
lazle nuts and the latter good-sized
luts OF the same sort. On her wrists
we're heavy gold bangles and her an
les were covered with the same kind
i ornaments, only of a heavier de- {
cription. All her fingers had richly
sWeled rings on them, and her toes
7ere encased in gold circles. She 6
ore a thick gold girdle round her
'alst, set in the center with pre- ious
ems, while the buckle consisted of a {
Irge sapphire. Every time she turned
10 tinkled with the sound of her or. \
aments, and the light flashed through p
lie translucent gems k
To say that she was loaded with Jew.
~ was no exaggeration. for | never b
'fore saw q woman carrying any 81
ing like the amount this one did. a
fter admiring her trinkets we turned G
II attention to her clothes. These G
OF a light silk saree or cloth. "
rdered heavily with bullion: pretty p
ollie bodice of pcarly colored silk Ii
,htly fitting, encased her form from m
/ shoulders to her waist, and the be
rec was tied round and round the re- tn
Under of the body. with just the vi
as, showing the gold border, thrown A
er the head and shoulders She al
'kcd pretty, but her Jewels robbed ar
Of much of her natural beauty She
8 fairer than IN Italian, not a bru- VII
re and not a blonde 4 so
There she said. pointing to a on
'ttier girl than herself who was Ply
oking. t'my. husband does not love do
!; she has not the same iewclry as /
e. am his married wife, (bc- VII
ny the other is only corcub:nc POI
cca). gu
s. this time whole troop of women 60
he up. Some were very dark. 9TH In.
fair Some had the chara teristic un
ures Of the gypsy, and others looked hif
all the world like English girls. :
ressed one in English, thinking she yh'
" was one Of my own race, but she der
g me no answer. / learned that yor
was beauty from Georgia All son
lem were well loaded with jewelry. hgf
Ugh there was a marked difference ute
Ne value carried by the individual you
len.-N ]. Home Journal feel
blu1
Beans VS.. Striped Beetles. him