The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-11-21
in AN EGYPTIAN. HAREM
EXPERIENCE OF AN AMERICAN GIRL
IN A PASHA'S HOUSEHOLD.
Her First Day as n GOverness Fall OF
pugnant to a Christian.
St. Louis Republic.

in an Egyptian harem. Within recent years
teachers of the English and French lam
guages have been admitted quite freely to
the Oriental households, and through them
has come a wider knowledge of the family
life of the Turks ard Egyptians than could
formerly be obtained. Miss Maud I.oudon.
the young teacher referred to, was seen by
reporter at her hotel, and obligingly gave
detailed account of her life and occupa-
ton in the Egyptian harem.
Miss Loudon was visiting relatives IN
Cairo when she received a call to officials
as governess in the household of prorni-
nent Egyptian government official The
young woman had taught several years in
the public schools of San Francisco. when
i'll health compelled her to retire from that
field for at least year. A sea voyage was
prescribed by her physician, and she de-
cided to visit her uncle, leading physician
Of Cairo, in Egypt. Hama Pasha, the dis
tinguished Egyptian who engaged Miss
Loudon as a teacher for his children, was
one OF the doctors patients. and the APP
pointment came about through him.
You can imagine how curious / was to
learn all 1 could about the Pasha and his
family when my uncle told me that he had
been asked by his client to secure my serv-
Ices" Miss Loudon began her interesting
narrative But my uncle could tell me lit
tie about him, beyond the fact that he had
only one wife and thirteen children. The
Pasha was highly educated, spoke the Eng.
lish and French languages fluently and oc-
oupled a distinguished post in the Egyptian
government, despite the fact that ne had
orce been caught embezzling several thou
sand francs. A transfer to another posi-
tlon was all that followed that discovery
by his superiors
Hama Pasha himself came to my uncle's
my salary which was 100 francs a month
ana board and lodging. l agreed to his
proposition and made ready that same day
70 accompany him to his home in Matarieh.
an oasis on the edge of the desert Nv
employer was man of forty, / judged, tail.
pale and very dark. He wore the conven-
tional dress Of European gentlemen: only
the 1ez marked him as the Oriental In the
afternoon following the morning of Hama
fasha s nrSt visit he conducted me to his
home. Beginning then and there to be one
OF the female members of his harem | was
not permitted to ride in the ordinary rail-
way coaches, but was given a seat in a
compartment set aside for women My new
ABODE was soon reached. 1t was situated
near the railroad and looked like convent.
"A nlgh, gray wall surrounded the entire
premises The Pasha took from his pocket
a key, with which he unlocked small IRON
me from the world beyond, for during the
next six months / was not permitted to
again cross that threshold.
WITHIN THE WALLS
within these walls I found the most
luxuriant garden 1 had ever seen. In its
| center stood the house, or harem The gar
den was divided into four sections by inn
mensely high walls which learned later
were to separate the gardeners and work.
men from the women. My employer led me
into the house and babe me take seat in
the reception room, the only apartment
| furnished in European style. There was a
sofa, two chairs, table and curtains at
| the windows. In the womens room of the
harem such luxuries as chairs and tables
| are not to be found. The Oriental women
| squat on the floor, which is profusely COW
| cred with rugs.
Hama Pasha went in search Of his wife
| and children to introduce them to me. One
| after the other the members of his family
! made their appearance. With an exasper-
| ating clatter of her Chinese shoes the lady
| of the house entered the room. She at once
| informed me with great pride that she was
| the mother of eight sons. Not a word was
| said about the FIVE girls who also owed their
| petite and pale, and rather sickly looking.
| She wore long black gown with wide
| sleeves. The day was warm, and this was
| the only garment that covered her body.
| She welcomed me in the Arabian tongue,
| first touching my hand and then her fore
| head. Not being acquainted with Oriental
| shook 1t cordially. She regarded me with
| great surprise, for it was evidently the first
'The children came finally, first the eldest
| daughter consumptive CIR. OF fourteen.
She was arrayed in g sky-blue grown made
she wore a red turban, similar to the black
one on her mothers head. She parlez-
vousd' delightfully."-. having learned It from
| my predecessor. The eldest son was thir-
| teen. He attended a school conducted by
Europeans, and was, therefore, dressed IKE
our b} % ana pc tha GseaI H
| dren were filthy. almost, full of holes, ana
their faces had not been touched by water
| that day. All were barefooted but an
| eight-year-old lad, whose feet wallowed in
| the immense slippers of his father.
when the entire harem had been pre-
| scented TO me- Hama Pasha departed to eat
his dinner alone in his own room Only the
| eldest son was now and then permitted to
share his fathers meal. The dinner cons
| and half was consumed by the master OF
the house in making way with It. The two
| back and forth between the kitchen and the
| dining room. When the pasha had finished
| we sat down to eat.
A DISGUSTING CUSTOM.
'T shall never forget my first Arabian
meal. We gathered around a long table,
| in the center of which was placed a steam
| ing dish of mutton stew and rice. They
permitted me to have plate, knife and a
X.
| slice of the heavy, soggy Egyptian bread
| Nine Pasha dug with both hands down
| into the stew and brought forth pieces Of
meat, which she distributed among the
| children. If a piece was too large, she tore
| it apart with her hands. The sauce kept
dripping on the table and over the gar
ments of that family until 1t made me Ill.
| When the children had finished what had
been given to them they fished around the
| dish with their own hands, and you can
| better imagine the condition of their hands
| and faces than l can describe II to you.
| Down the little arms rolled streams or
| grease and sauce, losing themselves in the
| folds of the wide sleeves that reached TO
| the elbow. Two of the youngsters sat on
| the table and the one with his fathers
| slippers took them off before climbing dam
| gtrously near the dish, against which his
| bare feet rested. There were other COURSES
but 1 could not have eaten them had 1
| starved to DEATH.
i'The day was full of surprises. When It
/ was time to retire, Nine. Pasha conducted
| me to the childrens bedroom. There were
| two beds one for me, the other for tho
five smallest children, two girls and three
boys For the first time in my life | shud-
dered when became aware that the Arab
fans do not disrobe but sleep in the gar
1nents they have worn all day. Imagine the
surprise OF those children when they saw
me undress. They rushed at once to theiF
mother to inform her of this fact. / heard
her pacify them, telling them Europeans
had different customs. A mosquito bar was
thrown over each bed and this was tucked
under the mattress after retiring. In the
morning / again disturbed the equilibrium
with soap and water. and brushing my
teeth Tvhev only dipped their hands ana