The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-03-18
In a Haren
Woman Tells How
One Is Arranged.

The only New York woman, and proba-
bly, the only one in America, who ever
lived in Mohammedan harern, is Louise
Katharine Harnett. Her experience in
India is certainly a remarkable one, and
few women would have the courage 10 do
what she has done. It is a most interest
ing story. She tells of what she did and
Jaw in her strange surroundings.
early in life" Mrs. Harnett told a
writer in the New York Herald, when he
saw her in her Madison avenue home, Il
commenced TO study Oriental languages,
booking forward 10 the tome when I
would visit the Far East. I acquired
knowledge Of Sanscrit, Persian, Arabic
and Urdu, the last named being dialect
used by the Mohammedans Of India I
originally went to India to do literary
work. and while there 1 translated a
number Of American books into the
Indian vernacular. I have read the We
Gas in the original, under the direction Of
the priests.
During my sojourn in India I assisted
in preparing for the organization Of the
medical work 50 admirably begun by the
Countess Of Dufferin. It is perhaps to
my knowledge Of medicine that L owe the
privilege Of being admitted TO the harem
Of a high caste AIohammedan. No Chris
tan. as you perhaps know, IS ever ad-
mitted into the sacred interior of an
Oriental harem. As I went TO India to
make an exhaustive study of every phase
Of life, 1 was very DESTROYS Of investigat-
ing the many stories Western people hear
of life in harems.
Fortunately an English officer with
whom 1 was acquainted put into my way
the opportunity for which longed-that
Of visiting and studying at my leisure the
every day life in a Mohammedan harem
One Of the wives Of a high caste Moham-
medan was taken Ill, and my friend was
called upon TO diagnose her case. As he
was a man and a Christian, he found it
was almost impossible to obtain correct
diagnosis Of her case. When he entered
TO the wOman's apartment a number of
women servants were standing about
their mistress couch. As soon as the
surgeon appeared these servants held up
a number Of sheets as high as their arms
would permit on every side Of the couch.
"A small hole was then cut in one of
the sheets. and through this aperture the
sick woman thrust her tongue for the
doctor to examine You can imagine how
much he learned from this. Next he de-
sired to feel her pulse, but such action
was out Of the question, according to the
Mobammedan religion. The nearest he
was allowed to come to this part Of his
diagnosis was to take hold Of a silk cord
which was tied around her wrist and
passed through the hole in the sheet.
Under these conditions it is hardly to be
wondered that the doctor despaired and
sought aid.
He asked me If 1 would endeavor to
make a diagnosis of the case, and l was
only too glad Of the opportunity Being
a woman, was allowed to make an ex-
animation OF the woman without the inter
vening sheets. I found her lying on a bed
which was profusely ornamented with
silver, ad she was jewelled from head to
foot. I learned that she had been stabbed |
with poisoned knife at the hands of her
son-in-law. This poison was so subtle |
that nothing we could do would counter |
act its effect and she soon died.
Two daughters were left motherless /
through this tragedy, and the English |
government appointed me as a joint
guardian OF the two little native prime |
esses. To facilitate my superlntendency |
Of their education I became a member. of |
their fathers harem. This matter was |
successfully arranged by his adopting me |
as a daughter.
The ceremony Of becoming a Mohsm- |
medan and member Of a harem is quite |
simple. II is only required that the appIi- |
cant read the creed. There is but one /
God, and Mohammed is his prophet I |
read that and added that Jesus Christ
was his prophet also. The Mohammedans /
40 not object to this, but they do object |
to saying that Christ IS the son Of God. |
They designate that as blasphemy. The
requirements for getting out of the Mo-
hammedan religion are as simple as the |
initiation All that is necessary is 70 eat
pork and drink wine and one is instantly
communicated. They look upon it as A
great disgrace to eat with Christians and
have an idea that pork and wine are all
We have to eat and drink.
shortly after 1 was admitted to the
harem the entire family repaired to
country residence at Pompur. There
about sixty relatives Of the head of the
harem We're invited to meet me -Elabor-
ate feasts were prepared and the occasion
proved TO be a splendid affair.
This harem was a very large BUILDING.
and like ali houses in India. contained no
windows. All the apartments were ar
ranged about large and very beautiful
court. While there are no windows in
the harem. they are hardly necessary. as
the inmates for the most part live out
on the Ferandas which are built around
the court.
The furnishings Of a harem are very
simple. consisting mostly Of rugs and
draperies. The beds are never made up
as in this country. The coverings are
simply rolled together in the morning and
unrolled again at night When the people |
retire they retain their ordinary dress.
Every wife has a separate suit Of
apartments. and il she does not choose to
associate with the other wives she can
keep 10 herself The men of the harem
have a separate building. where they en-
terrain their friends The apartments Of
all the wives have doors opening into the
private court II for any reason a WIFE
becomes displeased with her Hege lord
and does not care to see him. she places
tSt SttaeS OUTSIDE OF her uOoT. No good
Nohammedan viii pass through thar door
50 long as the shoes are left there. In
fact the wives are allowed to d. about
Is they please.
7 really believe the men have a worse
time than thu women. The head Of
larem must -r,-t each wife exactly as he
does the other. II by any unfortunate
chance he should make "a present OF a
piece Of jewelry 70 one and forget the
n.hers he would be ata-raILr .t.s--ac...i