Year: 1874

In Madame kibriZli-Mehemet-P Pasha' S
book on harem life we find an amusing
example of the mode in which wives are
obtained among the Turks. 1t appears
that a general with the somewhat formid-
able name OF Gueuzluklu.Rechid Pasha,
knowing the experience that Madame X


had acquired in the world, commissioned
her to choose him q wife, who was to
have a slender figure, spiritual phys
iognomy and black hair. " / at once
began the campaign, says the lady,
and having put on my handsomest at
tire, l sailed forth upoh a round of
visits to all the families of a rank equal
to that Of the general. The custom is
as follows: You present yourself at the
door of house where there is young
lady of manageable age residing.
What do you want, madam? wish to
see your daughter. Thereupon follows
| an introduction to the saloon, and you
are invited to take seat upon the
divan, until the young lady completes
her toilet. Presently she comes forth
clad in the richest robes, salutes you
with her handkerchief, seats herself, with
eyes cast down, on seat placed pur-
posely for her. Some coffee is then
brought in q small silver cup, which is
supped very slowly, as the young lady
always disappears the moment the cup
is empty. Presently one ef her rela-
tives approaches you and asks what you
think of her. Naturally, nothing is said
but eulogies Of the young lady, where
upon they enumerate to you her dresses
and her jewels stating also the value of
her dowry. Care must be taken not to
believe too much of all this, for very
often the relatives say they will give
much more than they can or will give,
and, though they break their word, the
daughter or sonin.law have na resource
against them. assured the family
that would give faithful account to
those who had sent me; and | did in
fact make a report every evening to my
husband, who transmitted it to Gueuzlu-
klu-Rechid Pasha. The latter, however,
showed himself very difficult to please.
Sometimes he found that the girl had
too many relations, or that she was too
tall, or too old sometimes the fortune
was not sufficient. For twenty days /
ceased not to visit the dwellings of all
the ulemas, ministers and high dignita-
ries in general. Tired at length of
making so many fruitless inquiries,
resolved to accept the first that came to
hand thereafter. She proved to be a
tall, robust girl, with regular features,
but her hair and eyebrows were red.
Gueuzluklu, it will be remembered, want
ed quite the contrary. /, however, offer
ed her the bouquet, enriched with dia-
monds, which his Excellency intrust-
ed to me for presentation to the lady
who was to be chosen. / took her to
my own house, but was careful not to
whisper a word about red hair. At my
request clever Greek dyed her locks a
deep black, as also her eyelashes aud
eyebrows. This, contrasting with the
natural delicacy of her skin, produced a
very agreeable effect. In spite OF these
precautions, however, felt q little ter
ror, for the General threatened to send
her home on the morrow after the we'd
ding if she was not to his taste, and give
vent to his anger not only upon my hus-
band, but upon myself. However. the
next day be thanked me for the choice l
had made. and his affection for his wife
became so strong that he would never
take q second.