robes being totally unknown within the precincts of this "Enchanted Castle."

On

Against the walls of another were piled up the beds, which heap was covered over with a rich silk coverlet. the divan was placed a silver tray (as the use of both toilet-tables and wash-hand-stands was totally unknown, containing the Princess's toilet requisites. These merely consisted of a plain black india-rubber dressing-comb, a white ivory-handled hair-brush, a very large-sized small-tooth-comb, two tooth-brushes, a glass box, containing tooth dentrifice from Paris, a small round silver bowl, into which poured the perfumed (rose) water with which Her Highness, the mother of the Grand Pacha, dressed her hair, the substitute for oil or pomatum (neither of which is ever used by any of the Viceregal family), and a large bottle of essences, all of which were covered over with a transparent crimson silk gauze cloth, bespangled with gold crescents, and bordered with gold fringe an inch deep.

In another apartment stood a large mahogany cupboard, containing the fumigating powders which are burnt in the rooms, dried fruits,

THE LADIES OF THE HAREM.

"He smiled as if his soul was soaring

To heaven, and heaven's God adoring !
And who can tell what visions high

May bless that young prince's blue eye!"

75

but when I approached towards the divan, he gave full proof that his lungs were in a healthy state, as he set up a most hideous shriek, buried his black head in his mother's lap, who laughed most heartily at the strange reception His Highness had thought proper to bestow upon his future governess.

On

In front of the Divan, behind, and on each side of me, stood a bevy of the ladies of the Harem, assuredly not the types of Tom Moore's "Peris of the East," as described in such glowing colours in his far-famed "Lalla Rookh," for I failed to discover the slightest trace of loveliness in any one of them. the contrary, most of their countenances were pale as ashes, exceedingly disagreeable; fat and globular in figure; in short, so rotund, that they gave me the idea of large full moons; nearly all were passée. Their photographs were as hideous and hag-like as the witches in the opening scene in Macbeth, which is not to be wondered at, as some of them had been the

em

Turque, doubled up like a clasped knife, without shoes or stockings, smoking a cigarette. Her waist was encircled with a white gauze handkerchief, having the four corners broidered with gold thread. It was fastened round, so as to leave two ends hanging down like the lappet of a riding-habit. Her feet were encased in babouches, "slippers without heels."

By her side sat H. H. the Grand Pacha Ibrahim, her son, so styled after the manner adopted by the renowned Mahomet Ali with the Princess Nuzley, "Nuzley Hanem." He was dressed in the uniform of an officer of the Egyptian infantry. On his head he wore the fez; across his shoulder hung a silver-gilt chain, from which was suspended a small silver square box, beautifully chased with cabalistic figures of men, beasts, and trees, enclosed inside which was another smaller box made of cypress-wood which contained verses of the Koran. He was about five years old, of dark complexion, short Arab nose, and rather tall for his age, and looked the very picture of a happy, roundfaced cherub. On perceiving me enter the

room

INTRODUCTION TO THE PRINCESS.

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handkerchiefs round their heads. They had been favourites in their youth. Behind stood half a dozen white slaves, chiefly Circassians, attired in coloured muslins, their dress and trousers being of the same pattern. Their head gear was similar to that of the ladies of the Harem, and the ornaments which adorned their persons were equally as costly.

The Mistress Superintendent introduced me to H. H. the Princess Epouse, who kept me standing a considerable time, while she fixed her eyes steadfastly upon me and smiled.

CHAPTER VI.

THE private installation having taken place, I was conducted by Anina, according to Her Highness's orders, down the flight of stairs by which we had ascended on a tour of inspection through the Princess's suite of rooms. We proceeded across a small garden, then along two large stone halls, around which were ranged divans, similarly covered with worsted damask, on which the slaves lounged about in the day and slept at night. A large deal table stood at each end. On each side are several rooms, in one of which is kept the drinking water. This is placed in large earthen jars, resembling, both in size and pattern, olive-jars; the key of which is in the charge of a black slave, whose office it is to dispense it daily. In another is made their Highnesses' coffee. Another is appropri