The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-08-16
LIFE In THE HAREM.
visit to q Turkish Princess
in Asia Minor.
AIMED EuNUcHs At THE DOOR.
- rseh Nan Can Afford PoIygamy--
me Hoases sPotlessly Clean
psscing slave Girls.

r.,,o Egypt, July 27.--fSpecial Core
sna.res l--Lingering at Cairo after the
- r,;grat;on OF tourists has winged
i. ray 70 cooler clines, | find time hang
- verv heavily on my hands. For with
she first blast Of the hot winds from the
ss.eyt fRhamse<nl the crowd of visitors
49, ant - rspidly Us il has poured in,
p 0a ,s.vs Tie ctr deserted wilderness of
~. 49,, - nd hotels. and dizziness reigns SUI
80 s. Hence fall back on my reminis-
rs -. md experiences to chase away the
,,s..s,,. hours of the long summer day.
a. ,aueh misapprehension exists as TO
se;.rsv life of these Interchangeable ORR
sat.lsiespecially the women) that IN JUS
49, = ! people whom have.learned to like
n,onose briefly to sketch the salient out
H.. ~ that life. which | have carefully
studied. and now proceed to portray as
,,uthfully as may. The shortest way to
do this is to recall my own recoilections of
long and intimate intercourse with the
higher class of Eastern women, whose
homes and harems are not accessible to or
binary travellers.
myself have occasionally asked per-
mission 20 take strangers with me, and it
4 has been graciously accorded. 1t is only
to old and Intimate acquaintances, among
foreign women. that the veil of the haren
s even partially withdrawn; but OF their
inner life they permit the stranger to see
nothing. ANY lady well recommended,
eoine to Cairo is admitted TO the formal
receptions of the khedivesse; but these
have been so Europeanized that scarcely a
trace Of Orientalism remains.
The Eastern system rests on the entire
isolation of the women from all social in
tercourse with the men. A Turkish house
isdivided into two separate portions. You
enter through large porte cocheye into a
SPACIOUS court yard; facing you is large
building: on one side are the apartments
ofthe men, called the Setdmeiik. and on
the other those of the women, the harem,
with separate doors to each.
At the entrance of the harem are always
stationed black eunuchs. armed to the
teeth, who forbid access to all visitors ex-
cept privileged persons. No man, except
the master OF the house, is permitted to
enter. Even the sultan himself may not
violate the sanctity of the harem of the
meanest OF his subjects.
The hourly association of the men and
women of family, does not exist with
them. A man eats, drinks and sleeps in
BIS own side of the house. and his visits to
De harem are most ceremonious. Very
little OF his time is passed in the society OF
bis family, and their lives are very much
apart. Although by the law of Islam a
nan is allowed four legal wives, but few
ssail themselves of the privilege, content
ing themselves with one wife at a time.
Yet the facility of divorce is so great that
aman may have several wives in success
SION: although he is bound by law to pro-
vide for the divorced wife and all the chill
dren born beneath his roof
Only very rich man can afford the ex-
pensiye luxury of plural wives; separate
apartments being allotted to each, as well
Is . retinue of slaves. To give an idea of
the real Turkish life, unadulterated by in
tercourse with Europeans, let US pay
friendly visit to q Turkish house at
Broussa. the second city in population
and Importance to be found in Asia Minor;
Smyrna, which is half foreign, or rather
Greek, being the first.
Let us first pay visit to the wife of the
governor Of Broussa, who is small queen
In her own way, isolated from CONSTANT
nople BY sea. and still more by the small
inter-communication.
Our visit was fixed for after midday, and
We jolted over the great stones in primi-
tive carriage, built by Bulgarian work.
men, emigris for faith sake, of whom large
Numbers have swarmed into Broussa, and
have had free grants of land from the
Iarklsh government.
Ny friend, the English vice consul, sent
his CANVASS, or guard, dressed iu his gor-
eeoas uniform, with scimeter and pistols,
TO accompany me, and give dignity to my
visit. For the Eastern people are great
stckiers Tor forms, and their manners
most courteous and dignitied. Even
among the women joking and familiarity
90 not prevail. Even the very young child
rem in iiarems are as solemn as little owls.
Ihey seem TO be born and grow up with
out any cheerfulness, and, as Mrs. Mala-
prop says, 1T plcases heaven to decrease
non further acquaintance, as they grow
up.
our stately canvass, with the strut of an
rate turkey gobbler in full feather. pre-
Uaed Us, under the port-cochere, to the
entrance door OF the theater, where stood
snree OF the sable guards of the harem--
most important looking personages. After
short conference between our CANVASS
nd the head eunuch, a message was sent
announcing our arrival by appointment.
Win TINS open sesame the jealously-
guarded door flew open TO admit US.
our CANVASS, as a man, could not pass
through the door; his place was taken by
me head eunuch, who solemnly led US
through long bare passages and long suites
uapartments, richly furnished in oriental
nshion, with divans and pearl-inlaid
esreses, or little stands. on which 10 place
Ways Tor refreshments, but without hairs
Aees, which are Western innovation.
la me iurthest room we found the gov
uor vile, who was by birth princess,
s seu, OF rather coiled up in Oriental
.ssaOi, on short silken diyan, with only
ssaa lor four people. This was the state
sWan-she others being long ones. running
around the walls of the room.
ieoaf q dozen ladies in waiting on
.'s'tors sere seated at respectful dist
saos while number of slave girls stood
sssh Their backs to the wall like so many
eaes. never moving or smiling. nor
moving any emotion whatsoever. There
- several very good-looking young girls
.a0ng them, many fair Circassians and
siso black Nubians.
a As We entered the princess rose from the
80 as dad all the other ladies, and gave
sne Eastern salutation by touching their
.s sa''s. hns and foreheads, which we re-
- .sineu' The princess then motioned rs