The Washington times., 1895-06-13
NEW LIGHT IN MosLEM HOMES.
The Turkish Women of the Present
Day Described.

The Turkish Women of the Present
Day Described.
Miss AIibe -Hauoum, a daughter OF DJenet
Pasha, is publishing just now in Paris
series Of articles entitled la Musulmane
Contemporaries, in which she blows tot
atoms great many widespread errors in
regard to Turkish family affairs.
Ia one Of her stories she speaks Of the
visit OF two European ladies to haTem.
This word, as is known, signifies that por-
tion Of the family composed Of women and
it is also given to the apartments which
they occupy, apartments from which men
are vigorously excluded. Several slaves,
or diaries, were in the parlor al the time,
standing with their arms crossed, accord
ing TO custom. and the conversation was
started Immediately in regard 10 them.
One OF the European ladies, noticing that
they wore jewels, imagined at first that
the mostly richly dressed among them was
one OF the ladies Of the household. This
woman" said Miss Alihe-Hanoum 10 the
lady visitor, ''is the Gala, that is TO say,
the superior OF the other diaries. The
novIces are confided to her care and she
busies herself with their training until
they learn the art of dressing their hair
aud ma king their clothes. She is CIt OF
mother of all the slaves in a Turkish house.
She is responsible for their order and
their appearance. The younger OF these
two girls was only four years old when we
bought her aud we have taken a great
deal pains with her education. She is
now fourteen and when she starts in life
we VIII do all We can for her. The ear
rings which she wears are The fruit OF her
little savings. The other girl we bought
quite recently. As a recompense for the
little time that she has served she received
q watch and chain
1T should be remembered that, provided
as they are by their masters with every ything
necessary for their comfort, the slaves are
also paid wages In addition TO this they
receive presents and even trousseau and
sometimes a little cottage when they are
made free. They are practically our serV-
ants. but with this difference: We engage
in the East our domestics at wages fixed
upon in advance and for fixed period. As
for the slaves, habit and usage have insti-
tuted Obligations toward them. These obli-
cations are measured according to the devo-
tiOn which they display and according TO
the amount of the fortune Of their masters.
Moreover. there is a commandment in the
religion Of Islam which is as follows: .Liber-
ate the djare when she has served nine
years. If you are not rich and you cannot
do SO, sell her TO some philanthropist who
VIII be able to set her free
Custom has reduced this term to seven
wears. and the masters who do not conform
to this requirement are severely punished.
The Mohammedan religion obi Iges the faith
fuI TO free a slave when one of their prayers
has been heard. The nuTse becomes free
when the child goes to school. Now. as they
commence TO send their boys to school at the
age Of four years the slavery OF the djarie
nurses is not very long. When "a Mussul-
man omits to fast on Ramazan day he has
TO choose between a fast or abstinence Of
siKty-one days and the enfranchsement OF
a slave. Finally, the djarie who is not con-
tent with The etreatnentshe receives from her
master has only TO say to him, Sell me,
and he must do so, and that, too, to whom
sOever she designates.
The result is that the fate of the diarie
is preferable 10 that OF the servant The
master OF the slave gives her a marriage
portion. He educates her and looks after
herehildren. Ii she meets with hard fortune
il is in the house of her old master that she
finds a refuge. The religious law does not
permit him to refuse her shelter. A slave
in a word. forms a part Of the family.
Consequently the greater number of young
Circasian girls hope TO be sent to Constants
nople to be sold there. But the number OF
slaves is limited by the number of masters
THE parents do not absolutely give proof
OF baTbarty by selling their children, be
cause they are excused by the hope that
theirdaughter will be weI educated and well
cared for, and that q grand seigneur' viii
adopt her, as, indeed often happens, and
that finally she VIII be happily married
No doubt there are many who sell their chill
dren simply from love OF money, and it is
also true that n considerable nunlbar OF
slave buyers purchase them as q matter oi
speculation and sell them again at much
higher price. There are abuses in every
thing, and these abuses in Turkey are Sc
verely condemned by public opinion"