Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-10-24
IN A HAREM.


-Heasy Bernard czrp<srR
IN 4 HAREM.
IN is43, whii~ astache Of the embassy Il
cos1stsntiuofle, was acting private s-rre-
tary ~ the great -lIs.isse,- Lori Seratfond De
Resiciiffs. thru Sir SFratford Canning
The British consul al - had Laid before
tise ar,tsaassior complaints against the rncha
Of tLs itstrie: where be rsssie'i. and the lat
ter had also broaght un1er the notice II the
porte grievances II a serious character, al
lsS.i " have bsen suffered from the Isroceed-
legs Of the consul Attempts we're made
18th by the porte and the ambassador TO
bring about q settlement OF the differences,
without saeess British subjects, losiaans
and Turks, whose interests were a.fsetest by
tbs state u affairs, spp~al.d 20 the embassy
ami to the porte, urging that Steps SHOULD be
taken b. secslre th. ends Of jiistic~.
Sir Stanford Canning PROPOSED 10 the porte
that an officer II the embassy should be sent
to u make an inquiry Into the conduct
Of tn. two flnctionariss, and that he sogld
b. empowered 10th BY The porte and the am
hss.ador % isrinz about a settlement Of these
differences ehich hal bsetl a constant source
Of yexatious eorre~pondeacr, Sir Stratford
sslecfed for this duty, and delivered 20
ME letters from the porte to the paeha, and
from hirnself 10 the consul, aequainiing them
respectively that | hal b~ei authorized 10
inquire into the various questions at is-ne,
and To endsavor to bring about = settlement
Both this consul and pachA ON my arrival
offered me hospitality. which l declined,
uflsles the peculiar circumstances In which |
was placed by my mission.
The day after my arrival the paeha sum
rnssile.i a disan Of several local notables. who
we're TO give evidence, and the consul
also requested to attend. When | entered
the divan, being then youth OF about ri,
was much shocked at seeing the pseha, consul
aud other notables with white and hoary
lizards and venerable appearance, upon
whom had, a. 10 were, to 81 in Judgment
After pipes and coffee. the bearing Of the
various subjects in dispute commenced.
Though refer 10 this scene a. II affects the
end II my tale. 1t Is needless 70 relate what
passed, further than 10 mention that found
beth pacha and consul were In the wrong,
but that neither had actsd In manner to re
quire any severe censure the part Of the
porte or ambassador and drew up a report
in that .eise. On my return journey TO the
port, having heard that game plentiful,
gave my horse 10 the Greek tservant) To lend,
and wandered over he country. had good
sport. and the Greek frequently warned
that unless we kept 10 the b. aten path and
rode on quickly. we should not he able "
reach the port before darf.
/ continued, however to shoot wandering
into ,hickets after game many miles distant
from the road, or rather track until it be-
came 10 dark that I could no longer see the
4 TOD 4
10 lead the way, but he declined: he knew
not where were, even what direction
to take It was n bright clear night, and at
distance Of about two miles espie.i light;
thither tieciiei to direct our steps, and to
ask for ,helter for the night, or for IA guide.
We Arrived at a large building with lattice
windows several feet from the ground sur
rounded by high wall inciosing what ap-
peared 10 he farm buildings, with a large
double gate, where carts and cattle could
pass. After knocking loudly an old Turk ap-
Feared spoke Turkish fuently at that time,
30 told him | was nm English Traveller and
had lost my way. and begged to have shelter
for the night nnyw her" in the farm yard, a
feed for my horses and some bread and cot
fee. II nothing else in the way OF food was
procurable for myself and servant, for we
were very hungry
Th,. Turk replied that his master was
Bey. who bad formerly been III the service Of
the port, that he was a landed proprietor;
that his family dwelt with him no man
could bc admitted into the house, but he
offered t. ask the bey's pcrmi slon to allow US
to prs the night in one OF the outhouses and
10 Iut NJ our horses.
The gate was asain closed, and after wait
ing q few minutes n Turkish gentleman,
Il.
l+arcd After tine usual salutations he said;
Are you III EnGllshmanF replied that
was, without masking myself known one of
the SECRETARIES OF the British embassy. He
ht'le Inc welcon" in "A hearty manner, and,
turning {" ih" Old man who had just
opened the gate. directed that my attendant
shonll he loiged in room in the farm build
ings, he given whatever he might require,
and that the horses should be stalled and fed
Then, taking me tp the door Of the house.
and opening 1t with large key, he stopped
ON the threshold and said, You are Eng
lish gentleman and therefore man of honor
| nm about to do that which no Mahometan
Will or ought TO do. | admit You to nv
harem among my family. have heard how
English gentlemen visit the house of friends
ami live men Of honor with their families.
without restraint | shall do the same for |
have specia! reasons for my conduct which
will relate when YOU have rested 1t is nv
earnest hope that you should feel as il Won
werc with one of your own countrymen. hut
beg YOU to keep secret from every one vour
visit 10 my house, and never TO mention |
whom YOU may see within it
He then lt.i me up a narrow Stairra... into,
we'll hrht.4l room. handsomely furnished with
h.,auiiiul ,s,,petiu.t ,nn,rnr,.yI. ,l,,u,
mirrors Turk .h fables arms hung M, tho
wall and IA courh with pretty emlroidared
he my b~i.
Again aud again he babe me welcome, add
ing. II shall leave you to repose; you must be
hungry. Supper is ordered pipe and
coffee Will he brought to you, order what YOU
please" Thea as he Withdrew he repeated
again in n kind manner, An English efYendi
is always man of honor
" hilc inspecting tie room and wondering
what all this meant. heard gentle step, and
"a tail, graceful figure of girl about IL en-
tered, She dressed handsomely in q
jacket used by Turk u ladies. it'll bodice
open in 'front.' like unto the square dresses
NOW worn by English ladies OF an evening.
She had on yellow silk "shalvas," or trousers,
fastened by white muslin sash the ends of
which were prettily embroidered and hung
outside the ''shavas." Her compexion was