ZENIB'S HAREM.

Otago Witness, Issue 1501, 21 August 1880, Page 26

ZENIB'S HAREM.

Circassian Beauties, Languishing Odalisques, and Brilliant Dressing. Mrs Heap, wife of our Consul- General, described to me a visit paid by her the other !day to a Turkish harem — that of Zenib i Hanoum, sister of Ismail Pasha, the cxi Khediva. This lady is one of the moat remarkable of living Turkish womea from her intelligence, liberal ideas, and immense wealth. Her "yali," a large gray palace, is one of the handsomest oa the Bnspuorus. On alighting from the carriage, Mrs Heap and tho four ladies accompanying her were ! met at the door by some half dozsn men — cavasnes, grooms, and eunuch? — brilliantly dressed. These escoTtei tho party through the selanalik, or men's apartment, which in this case, the lady being a widow, are rather bare. They consisted of four or five rooms. A long corridor, so'tly carpeted, and whose numerous windows overlooked a fine garden, led to the women's rooms or haremilk. The donr was opened by two handsome Oircas1 sun girls, who led tho ladies in, followed by I a couple of aunucho. A magnificent hall [was eatoied, square ia shaye, with two alcoves, one of whioh was like an enormous

bay-window, enclosed on all sides by plateglass. This room was furnished in true Oriental style. Divans of crimaon damask lined the gaily- coloured walls, an elegant buhl centre-table stood on the rioh rug that covered the floor, and a number of little walnut tables intricately inlaid with mother-of-pearl, gleamed in the sunlight that streamed through the numerous windows. Women of every age and colour were grouped about, chatting and laughing, but the arrival of the " Franks " Bilenced them. In the rear, opposite the glass alcove, ran up a wide stairoase thickly carpeted, of gold and white, joined on to a sort of gallery which extended from end to end of the room, and up there was a group of women in bright costumes engaged at the looms or in talking and smoking. All these "odalisques" rose at the visitors' arrival. A hideous eunuch brought word that his mistress was ready to receive, and her two nieces, daughter of Halam Pasha, came to usher the ladies in. These two young ladies, muoh rouged and painted, were pretty in the sickly and theatrical way common to harem beauties. They wore a composite style of dress, half European, half Turkish. The head-dress was a turban elaborately embroidered, and the fair Orientals were fairly spangled with brilliants, massive earrings and brooches. A loose skirt and short jacket of light silk and highheeled embroidered slippers completed their oostume of piquant ensemble.

Zenib Hanoum receives in regal style, She was sitting, or rather squatting, attired riohly in a complete Turkish costume, on a raised settee covered with many soft cushions. After the usual interchange of compliments, as manifold and ceremonious as in China, the lady clapped her jewelled hands together, and the doors opened wide. Then in came the procession, bringing the coffee. First entered two black slaves, carrying on their shoulders a carved pole, from which hung by silver chains a tiny brazier of the same metal. On its glowing coals were placed several little long-handled coffeepots, the aromatic Mocha, creaming and bubbling, and diffusing a delicious odour through the apartment. These stood motionless. Then four others, bearing an immense silver tray, from which hung to the floor a rioh silk towel, studded with preoious stones and embroidered in gold thread. Several other females entered, and eaoh took from the tray a small coffee cupholder or " zaf," placed thereon the oup filled with coffee, and, kneeling before each visitor, presented it to them. Mrs Heap then noticed that her and the other ladies' " zaffa " were of gold filagree work, and literally in the bright sunlight blazing with brilliants in elaborate designs of birds and flowers. With the same punctilio the coffee was removed, and the compliments recommenced "de plus belle." After that a volley of questions followed on every conceivable subjeot— some very, to put it mildly, queer, for harem ideas of propriety and ours are, I grieve to say, widely different. When, after a visit of over two hours — for to devote less time to a oall would be a grave infraction of the laws of etiquette —the ladies rose to take leave, Zenib Hanoum asked them to wait an instant. No Booner had they reseated themselves than the door opened again to give admittance to another flock of women, bringing one a crystal beaker of delioious sherbet, beside which our boasted cocktails would sour with envy. Another swarm brought soft towels for the ladies to dry their lips on. In accordance with Oriental ideas, the lady of the house asked Mrs Heap if there was any ornament she wore that Mrs Heap would be pleased to accept as a souvenir, and looked quite hurt when her guest excused herself from accepting any gift. Her jewels were magnificent, noticeably a large emerald, surrounded by diamonds, worn in the shape of a brooch. After many pressing invitations to come again, the ladies left the yali, feeling all the way home as though they had been permitted to live for a few hours in the harem of Harounal-Raschid, or allowed to take a peep into the Mohammedan's paradise.—Constantinople Letter to Philadelphia Telegraph.