Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1891-01-10
ORIENTAL LADIES.
1T Is POSSIBLE TO SEE THEM.
But NOT AT ALL EASY.
Interesting Things About the Homes
and the Home Life of tho People
of Mohammedan Countries
-Inquisitive Beauties.

-Inquisitive Beauties.
Even under the prevailing iron system
of seclusion the beauties of Islam are not
wholly cut off from the civilized world
Men, indeed, arc absolutely forbidden TO
approach them, and so strict is this pro-
hibition that it extends itself not merely
to foreigners and unbelitvers, but to those
of their own race and creed and even to
their nearest relations. From the day of
her marriage to the day of her death
Moslem bride must never sec or be seen
by any man save her husband. But with
lady visitors it is quite different matter.
Seldom, indeed, does the most Jealous
and fanatical of Mussulman husl ands OBJ,
Ject to admit them to the society of hi.
| wives, and, in fact, such visits are often
looked upon by the honest Blucbeard IN
the light of a favor rather than an atfront,
lnasmuch as it keeps his own ladies in
| good humor for the time being and saves
him the trouble of doing anything to
entertain them.
Let US suppose that you arc European
or American lady travelling along the
North African seaboard and about to nav
visit to the Gagged beauties IN the home
Of some great Moorish dignity in No.
rocco. Following the two tall, red
capped, white -frockcd Moorish soldiers
sent TO conduct you, you thread vour
way through cehwcb of narrow. gloomy,
filthy lanes, almost blocked at times b,
heaps Of dust and garbage among which
numbers of gaunt, wolfish dogs arc root
ing hungrily. Meanwhile your two guide
clear the way for your horse or oonke-
through the eddvins whirl of men, bows
camels. asses, horses and old women h
constant shouts Of "Chcloh cheloh :.
Cook OUT and remorseless punches viii
: the brass -shod butts Of their rifles.
AT length YOU halt in front of high
bare, wlndowess wall, the only vjsibI.
opening in which is a deep, shadow
porch OF the key shaped form, peculia
to Saracenlc architecture, edged will
curious frctwork, and brilliantly paint
ed with alternate stripes of crimson
and blue. This leads into q marbl
! paved quadrangle with a tiny fountai
, splashing and tinkling in the centre
[ the. patio Of the Spaniards. il fact
! borrowed by them from their Mooris
8 conqucrors. Shady colonnades run alen.
' Its four sides, above which arc cloistere
t passages protected by screens Of fattiio
. work. And now you discover why |tl
: outside of Moorish house is alway
q wlndowless, for with jealous prcca,
ton thoroughly Characteristic Of II
9 East all inc windows open upon the i,
!. ner court,
Visitors being frequently received
, the court itself, it IS strcwn with mats
o carpets and shaded from the weather I
|. colorcd awning, which subdues II
d burning African sunshine into a ri,
,f summer gloom Of purple twilight, sue
as that which fills the aislcs of some va
cathedral. Beyond this lies spacio
X saloon, with richly carpctcd hcor al
paneled ceiling, for which any Ven
m tan noble Of tnc foYrtecnth ccntu
would gladly have given half his wear
ia revenue. No chairs are to be seen. h
70 the soft cushions scattered about /,
: floor and the velvet OF damask bolst,
1e placed along the sides Of the room -h.
where the inmates are wont ia so,la.
NJ Tecllne. The upper part OF tnc wall
as frcscoed with appropriate text from
ay Koran IN quaint. arrowy. Eastern ch
ID acters, while alon. the lower par, {
to mask hangings Of white, scarlet or bl
tee mask the doorways Of several bcjroo
from which three OF four steps Of y
lshcd white marble lead down into
saloon itself.
Rs Suddenly the hancincs ot a curtain