The Topeka state journal., 1899-10-13
IN AN EGYPTIAN HAREM.
TFrom Good Words.l

The harem in which we spent a couple
of days stood a few miles out of Cairo
garden planted with date palms olive
trees, orange groves with melon ana
irving at the harem garden we We're ad-
mitted into its paradise of shade and rest
potentate, who had headed our process
sion on an ass, and at this juncture our
bOdyguard abandoned US, remaining with
out the walls while we We're left to make
our way alone toward the group OF Wo-
men whom we saw approaching by the
stone-hagged walk that led to the house.
They were evidently the wives of our
friend whose invitation TO visit his harem
ing in a slight degree the interest we had
long felt as to private life IN eastern
These ladies were dressed in loose
gowns of figured cotton, red and yellow
shoes without heels, and scarfs OF all
colors Some of the younger ones were
handsome, being not much brOwner in
the face than those of Spanish origin,
while their marveIously erect figures,
gave them an appearance of great dig
by name "a niece of the Turks, who had
been born in ConStantinople, was much
more highly educated that the others
and able to talk French, and when pre-
liminary greetings were over We followed
her and our new friends through an arch-
way into square court. whence we pro-
ceeded on a tour of inspection through
many large rooms on the ground loot
all of which~were empty except the inner
most chamber.
on seeing our interest in their customs
they became friendly and aHoWed US 70
examine their ornaments, generally neck
lets made of gold ZequinS strung together
and bracelets worn much larger and
heavier than it is ordinary to see IN
our country. Mira, our interpreter, told
US she was engaged to be married TO her
cousin, Arter, her uncle'S son, ana snow
ed US ring that he had given her 1t
was a large duh red stone in the shape
of cartOuche, worn by her on the nrst
finger, and it bore the Inscription writ
ten in Persian characters, There Is a
flower in the garden OF Arten, and her
name is Mira"
Some of the other jewels were intended
to keep off the influence of demons ana
night monsters, as a remedy against dis
ease. curses, sOrcery and vengeance. A
young lady, daughter-in-laW OF the pasha
insisted on our retaining an amulet OF
hers as a present 1t was a small piece
of shiny ebony. shaped in the form OF
a first and SECOND finger extended as II
to bless, and its special properly was TO
keep off the evil eye. We were sorry by
accepting it to expose our friend to any
risk in depriving her of the benefit of its
protection, although glad to receive so
curious an example of a superstition al
most too absurd to believe possible They
are a strange mixture of credul1ty and
devoutness, though one would have both
to understand their language and 1--we
with them before being able to know how
far these superstitiOns emanate from
their convictions arise simply from
g-descended habits.
As hour after hour Of the afternoon
passed in conversation, Sightseeing and
undisturbed starvation. our joy may be
imagined when shortly before SundoWn
we We're requested. to condescend to wash
our hands in preparation for the principal
meal of the day. We enteEsd room with