Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-06-16
THE WOMEN OF EGYPT
xARy J. HOLMES DESCRIBES THEIR
LIFE. APPEARANCES, AND HABITS
The Daughters Of the Khsdive-His wife
and Rstinus Of servsnts-Egypnan
warrtagss-At Wedding
Reception, &c.
rsnoc,.i corrcspondencc Of The Richmond Dis
patch.l
CAmo, EaYrr, Nav 4. 1889.

land. "There are no snakes in Ire
land" YVES the beginning and end OF ms
essay, and emulating his example L
might almost say, "there are no hand
some women In Egypt, except the
English and Americans. or If there are,
their charms are hidden by the disiigu'
ring veil which is wcrn IN the street.
and only laid aside in the privacy OF
home where there are no masculine eyes
except those of husband, father, or
brother. The little girls are tree 10
breath the air Of Heaven, without tho
obstruction across the nose AMI mouth,
and some of their fresh young faces
nre very pretty and as iar as tie faces
of our American girls, whose dress ana
style they initiate
TIE pAUGHTERs OF TIRE KHFDiNf,
with their bright color and blue eyes,
would pass for English anywhere l
saw them driving one afternoon with
their covorness, while before the car
risge, Keeping even step with each other
nnd the distributing horses, were the
roval runners IN their shost white skirts
md gorgeous sashos and vests OF gold
and silver. These always precede car
riages of the khcdiyes household, and
are mbryels Of hardwood and endurance.
No matter how hot the dav, or dusty the
road. or long the drive they never
flag. but with their bodies bent
little forward run swiftly on, and with
their quick, sharp cry OF warning clear
ihe street of any obstacle IN the way
The donkev-boys back their donkeys on
TO the narrow sidewalks, the cameldnycrs
turn their camels round corner. the
beggar. who looks more ike moving
rar-hsg than a man. muttcrs prayer 10
Allah and steps aside, while the dirty
children asking for backsheeSb scamper
in all directions, rolling sometimes IN the
mud and sometimes IN the cutters, any
where 10 get out Of the way while the
great people go by. Then the ranks
close ND again and the street trallic iowS
on rs before.
THE KHEDIyE's WIFE
is verv fne-looking, and very devoted to
her husband, who is extremely popular
with the people. He does not seem TO
have inherited any Of his fathers vices
or taste for expenditure. for he has only
forty servants and one wife. wiIlc the
dissolute aud dethroned Ismacl kept four
hundred servants, and had. ] was told,
between two and three hundred ladies'
IN his harem. What bitter jealousies and
ouarrels there must have boon when
these all met together, it they ever dld,
which Is doubtful. for the old man had
many palaces, with endless suites OF
rooms the furniture in one OF which
cost twenty-five thousand dollars. They
are shut up now, most of them, and
only kept as show places, frequented
alike by tourists and natives.
RUNNING FROM MEV.
In the gardens of the Ghizch Palace
we came Suddenly upon group OF
young Egyptian girls out for holiday,
unveiled, and attended only hy an GU
much, who counts or little more than an
old nurse Of the family. But the mo-
ment we approached cry Of alarm was
raised both by our iraeOnan and the
eunuch. Ncu were coming, and like
frightened birds the girls drew their
wells around them and plunged into the
shrubbery-all hut one, who. holder or
more curious than the others. stopped
moment and turned her laughing face
toward us rs if challenging our adnia-
ton. She was very pretty, with blue
ewes and light brown haIr. and evidently
belonged TO the higher class Of Egyptians.
The sister OF the kheiiye's wife Is
handsome, with o brilliant complexion,
some of which she owes to art rather
than TO nature. She wears her hair
banged, and only thin white vel con
I -. 8 t...,. 60 -t,..,
driving in her carriage. She occupies
one OF the khedive's palaces, and has
recently been separated from her nus
banda dashing. dissipated fellow
whose habits DO not please her. Sepa-
rations and divorces are quite as com
mon in Egypt as III America. Nor Is
tins surprising when We remember how
little the parties know of each other be-
fore marriage-notLing in fact, in most
instances except from hearsay, while the
girl has 10 choice whatever IN the
matter.
HOW THEY GET MARRIED.
A young man wishes to marry, and
his mother begins to search tor suit
able wife among the families Of her own
caste, and frequently among her own re-
latlons, as they believe IN marrying
cousins. Mothers OF daughters are also
on the lookout and persons employed as
hair-dressers or seamstresses are some
times hired to advertise the good quail
ties of the young girls, who have nothing
TO do but to accept the husband provided
for them. After the GIRL is chosen the
dot is next considered. two thirds OF
which are paid to the father Of the bride
and the other third retained for
the wife in case she does not prove
satisfactory, and Is sent away. The
marriage ceremony, | was told, takes
place between the father and his pros
nective son-in-law. while the bride IS
either washing dishes IN the kitchen or
listening at the door but, once married,
b she becomes for the time being person
of importance, and is conducted to her
new home with good deal of ceremony.
The wedding reception takes place in
| the evening, and after it i over the
bridegroom sees his brides face for the
first time in his life.
A MARRIAGE INCEPTION.
II was our good fortune to attend one
Of these receptions, a description of
Kul(u MAY not Dt uulIttithllIB. 4 TIC
house, which stood in a court, was deco
rated with lanterns and wedding flags,
while the street in front was filed with
donkey boys and other curious spects-
tors. The gentlemen OF our party were
ushered 10y tall Arab into room on the
ground floor, where the male guests
were seated in solemn silence, smoking
cigarettes, drinking Turkish coffee, and
looking like anything int paitici-
as in festive occasion. rs they
sned to the doleful music OF an
ptian band. Meanwhile was con-
ed upstairs and presented to the la
who were in full evening dress,
tn flowers and powder and rouge.
None of them spoke English. and only
"a little French, 80 that we were not
ny social party. Many Of them had
z slippers OF, though why / DO not
-. unless they were too small and
ut their feet Some sat upon the
or ON cughionq and others an tha al.