Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1893-09-17
ROMANCE IN A SIAMESE HAREM

OA l1EeN ne IN olAm tOiu oJ MS -
II. Leonwens, an English woman, who
spent six years 40 the court OF the late
King. She was employed as governess
for the Kings children, sixty-fye In
number, the present King being one or
her best pupils. Her description OF the
city Of Nang Harm, or Yelled Women,
Is full of interest. The 1900 inhaol-
tants OF this city, which is closed by the
inner OF two parallel walls around the
royal palace, are all women and chill
dren. No man, save the King and the
priests, dare ever enter its precincts
Here live the royal princesses, the
wives, concubineS, and female relatives
Of the King, with their numerous
slaves and attendants.
Connecting the city with the two pal
aces are covered entrances for the wo-
men. At the end of each OF these pas
saQes is q bas-rellef representing the
head OF a sphinx with q sword through
the mouth and with this inscriptions
'sBetter that a sword Do thrust through
thy mouth than that thou utter WORD
against Him who ruleth on high Not
far OF are the barracks OF the Amazons,
the women's hall OF justice, and the
dungeons, where female judges daily
administer justice 20 the Inhabitants or
this woman's city. There is also temple,
q gymnasium, and theatre, where the
great ladies assemble in the afternoon
10 gossip, play games, or watch the
dancing girls. In this city live also the
mechanical slaves who ply their trades
for the benefit OF their mistresses. It
is. in fact, a city; IL has its own laws,
ITS Judges, police, guards, prisons, exc
cutiOners, markets, merchants, brokers,
teachers and mechanics. Every tunc-
ton is exercised by women, and by wo-
men only.
The women of the harem amuse them
selves I'm the early and late hours OF the
day by gathering flowers In the palace
gardens, feeding the birds and gold
fishes, twining garlands for the heads OF
the children, listening 20 reading by
slaves, ana specially in bathiag. When
the heat is not oppressive they plunge
into the pretty, retired lakes, swimming
and diving like tlockS of brown water
fowl They play at chess, cards, and
dice, aud some Of them are decidedly
skilful.
Mrs Leonoweus describes a trial for
witchcraft which occurred while she
was az the palace. 10 seem that during
the Kings absence a beautiful princess
disappeared from the harem, and In her
place remained only deaf and dumb
slave girl. The day of the trial three
women, half stupeied by .he foul air or
be damp cell IN which they had been
Imprisoned, were conducted 20 the
great court hall Of tho temple, where
the trial for witchCraft was 20 take
place. A procession Of royal aStrolo-
gers. wizards, and witches, who receive
handsome salaries from the King,
filed into the temple and took
their places. Then came the Chief
Justice of the Supreme Court and his
Secretary 10 report the trial 70 the
King. The prisoners, when brought To
proved TO be May-Peah, who was the
deaf and dumb changing, and the two
haudmaidens OF the Princess. They
were guarded by 6fty Amazons. The
crowd who looked upon May-Peah as
veritable witch, was OreathleSs with eX-
recitation. COnCh shells wero now
blown TO summon the holy man OF the
woods who soon appeared on the oppo-
site bank OF tho river, plunged into 10,
and came and took his place beside the
prisoners This strange mortal, who
lived the life of an Ourang-outang, had q
fine, sensitive face, and was always
called 70 aid tho court in It's spiritual
examinations. At the command OF the
Judge the two Amaz0nS who were
on duty on the night Of the abduc-
ton testified that q tall, dark figure,
with dagger in one hand
and ponderOus bunch Of keys in the
osSeg. bad entered the hall. They saw
nera 40 20 the cell OF the princess, open
q with one OF the mysterious keys, and
lead her forth. As they were par
aiyzed snd unable TO move from the
spot, the strange figure reappeared,
passed by them quickly into the cell
and closed the door. To the questions
OF the wizards May-Peah returned no
a2swer Alta signal an alarm gong was
struck Immediately behind her, and,
being taken by surprise, she turned
20 see whence the sound came.
The willy Judges then shouted,
at Is plain that you can speak,
for you are not deaf" She was forth
with condemned 10 all the tortureS OF
the rack. The holy man OF the woods,
q
'Yah" liorbearl, and declared that she
was powerless % speak, because under
the irlueuCO of witChcrait. One OF
tho wise women suggested that some
magic water should be poured into her
mouth On opening it they fell back
with horror and cried, "Brahma. Brah-
ma! an evil iend has torn out her
tongue" Immediately the unhappy
woman became the object OF pity, and
even Of alteration. The ceremony OF
exorcism was gone through,a and she and
her companions were fully acquitted of
any completely with the devil, each re-
ceivlng q sum OF money and being set
at liberty. MayPeah'S friends after
wards told Hrs. LeonOwels that 10 was
she who had terrified the AmaZOnS, re-
leased the Princess, and led her to
boat I'm which were the lover Prince and
two friends. As there was not room for
an. May-Peah refused toleaye the COM
panions of her beloved mistress, and
full OF terror lest, by the dreadful tor
ture which she Knew awaited her, she
might be forced TO betray those who
were dearcr 20 her than her own life,
she with ono stroke OF her dagger de-
prlved herself Of the power Of ever ut.
tering an Ineligible sound.
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