The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-09-21


ing the Kaifas-is assigned diara--a
suite of apartments, money allowance,
servants slaves, eunuch, etc.
Next come the Guezdes, young ladies
upon whom the sultan has cast his
eye" but not positively selected as an
Ikbal.
The harenl of the sultan is composed
entirely of slaves or women Of slave
origin. The reason for this is that a
Moslem free woman may not unveil
herself in the presence of a man not
of her blood, nor permit man to enter
the harem. And in the sultan's harem
they are understood TO unveil them
, selves pretty considerably.
Palace slaves are usually purchased
very young. and those who develop per-
sonal charms are placed under the
. tutelage of the Halfas, and are taught
department, dancing singing, music,
etc The others are brought up
serva nts-cooks, housemaids, bath at
tendants. etc.
The sultan's wives and favorites are
generally presented to him by the
valide or some official, who thus at
tempts his majesty's favor. But any
slave in the palace may aspire to the
highest dignity. In fact. the wife of
Mahmoud II. the mother of Abdul
Aziz, was a mental when she attracted
attention. No formal contract is en-
tered into between the sultan and his
wives. but the union is indissoluble
until both are dead. A sultan's widow
may not marry again.
When the sultan visits the harem
there is a big time. Everybody dons
her best and looks her prettiest. The
mistress of ceremonies ushers him in
and conducts him to the diVan. Under
the superintendence of the Kalfas the
slave girls serve coffee. sherbet, sweets
etc Should any one of them take his
IancY. he asks a casual question about
her of the valide. when, by a sign the
girl is commanded to approach and kiss
the fringe of the divan She then leaves
the service of the Kalfa ana mas he
come Guezde-''one of the eyed" AS
such she is given q separate apart
ment If on further acquaintance she
proves acceptable, she becomes a IA
vorite or Ikbai, and should she become
a mOtnef a Hanum or kasir Emendi-
according to the number of wifely pre-
decessors in the suItan's affections.
Should, however, the sultan tire of her
and wish her removal, a dover is given
her and she is married to some palace
official
8 q o
On the accession of a new sultan the
various ladies of the deceased ana their
immediate attendants are removed to
some other palace and the household
of the new monarch installed
The position of the sultans slave
girls must in no sense be COMPOUNDED
with the conditions that surround slav-
cry in other countries These women
are cared for-or properly married-alI
the days of their lives. When married
they become free women. Their labors
even as menials. are light and the wo-
men OF the sultan'S harem consider
set
1 neglected to state that the ladies
OF the harem are exceedingly punctili-
Gus. When calling upon each other as
much ceremony and form is INDUCED in
as When the Grand Duchess of Gerol-
stem calls upon the Grand Duchess of
Pumper-NickeL 1t must be remem-
bered that each mother of a son is 4
possible valide sultana, for each prince
has a chance under Moslem law of
some day becoming sultan. As the sui
tan Is called the Lion of Lions" so
each mother calls her princeling MY
little lion And when this little lion
reaches certain age he is installed in
a palace, given a number of slave girls
ard sets up a harem of his own-and
does right good business at it during
the early years Of his life.
l have spoken of the foster-m mother
OF the sultan This lady and the fos-
brothers always play an important
part in the monarch's life. Next to the
actual mother of the sultan. the FOSTER
mother is the most highly honored and
esteemed lady of the court, and fire.
quently becomes valide sultana
The above tells al know-yes. and
all that | don't know, perhaps-of the
sultans harem. 1 will not vouch that
it is correct picture as it exists to-
day, but as changes are slow in T,Ir-
Key, II is probably near enough. 1t
must be said Of the present sultan
however, that while he has a numerous
progeny, he is not considered volup-
tuary, but rather the contrary. Of
cor her
des," but not as many as in former
reigns.
Now q word regarding his majesty'g
subjects at large:
Turks have no family names For
example: A man named Mohammed
has son named Ahmed and a daugh-
ter named Sophia. The son wifi always
be known merely as Ahmed and the
daughter always merely as Sophia in
the latter case even after marriage
The result is that members of families
after one or two generations become
lost to each other. In fact, the isis
tiers and the cousins and the aunts''
business is not much exploited here
one may be talking to two brothers or
two sisters without the fact being made
known There being no family names
or ties, there are no great families-no
ar1stocracy. The grand vizier of today
may have been a canal driver or a SER
want. His rise is not due to any family
influence or connection
As before stated, the Koran permits
a Moslem to have four wives. but ex-
cepting in the case of the sultan. of
high dignisaries and very rich men.
one wife is the rule. One reason for.
this is that poiygamy, even in Turkey
is expensive For each wife separate
apartments must be provided, as well
as special slaves, attendants, eunuchs
etc. As to the marriage ceremony
some say 1t Is entirely a civil, others
say religious ceremony The man
ner of it appears to be that the mother
or other female representative of the
man, visits various harems to inspect
the marriageable inmates. When she
has found one that she thinks fills the
bill the fact is reported to the young
man and his father. If they are salts
fed with the report the maiden's family
IS informed and a betrothal takes place
by the groom that is to be sending the
girl such Present as his position war
rants, and he receives in return such
present as is deemed suitable. sum
OF money is then sent to the brides
rather Dy the Dung mans father to-
ward paying ex9enses-the outfit. fes-
tivlties, etc. Several days afterward the
marriage takes place First, however
tnere Is a contract agreed upon by
which The man engages to pay GER
tam sum to the woman I'm the event
OF dfvbrce or death. This done, tho
groom declares three times his desire
Behind Ia 1iGfa