The Saint Paul globe., 1900-03-25

an exhaustive study of every phase of
life. I was very desirous of investiga ting
he many stories Western people hear Of
dfe in harems.
Fortunately, an English officer with
whom I was acquainted put into my way
the opportunity for which l longed-thac
of visiting and studying at my leisure tn.
everyday life in Mohammedan harenI
One of the wives of tigh-caste Moham-
medan was taken ILL., and my friend was
called upon to diagnose her case. AS n
was a man and a Christian, ne found l.
almost impossible to obtain a correct di-
agnosis of her case, When he entered
the Woman's apartment a number OF
women servants were standing about
their mistress couch. AS soon as th}
surgeon appeared these servants held up
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 he
sick woman thrust her tongue for the
doctor to examine. You can imagine ho "
much he learned from this. Next he de-
sired to feel her pulse but such ac ion
was OUT Oh liiC QuHSLlOtis dNNOi utis9 10 Nil
Mohammedan religion. The nearest h :
was allowed to come to this pat of MS
diagnosis was to take hold of Xix cord
which was tied around her wrist and
passed through the hole in the shee.. Tn
der these conditions it is hardly to be
wondered that the doctor despaircd ana
sought aid.
"He asked me if I would endeavor to
make a diagnosis of the case, and |
was only too glad of the opportunity.
Being a woman, l was allowed TO make
an examination of the woman without
the intervening sheets, | found her
lying upon a bed which was profusely
nrnamouted with silver, and she was
jeweiled from head 10 foot. l learned
that she had been stabbed with a
poisoned knife at the hands of her sen
in-law This poison was so subtle that
nothing we could do would counteract
It's effect and she soon died.
Two daughters were left motherless
Though this tragedy, and the English
government appointed me as joint
guardian of the two little native prin-
cesse9 To facilitate my superinten-
dency OF their education l became a
member OF their fathers harem. This
matter was successfully arranged by
his adopting me as a daughter
The ceremony of becoming a Moham-
medan and q member of a haIem is
quite simple. 1t is only required that
the applicant 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 do not object to this. but
they do object to saying that Christ
Is the Son of God. They designate thai
as blasphemy. The requirements foI
getting out of the Mohammedan religion
are as simple as the initiation. All that
IS necessary is to eat pork or driuh
wine and one is instantly excommuni-
Gated. They look upon it as a great
disgrace 10 eat with Christians, and
have an idea that pork and wine arc
all we have to eat and drink.
shortly after l was admitted tC
the haIem the entire family repaired
to q country residence at Pompur. There
about sixty relatives of the head of the
harem were invited to meet me. Elabor
ale feasts were prepared and the occa-
son proved to be a splendid affair.
This harem was very large build
ing, and. like all houses in India, con.
tanned no windows. All the apartment:
were arranged about a large and every