Walter Matthew Gallichan

“ A clever country maid may, by the exercise of her physical attractions, her wit, or her dancing, win the favour of the monarch. Many uneducated girls who enter the harem learn languages and become moder- ately well educated in a few months. A slave, if she is exceptionally intelligent, may become a teacher. ”

“ Their servants are the alaiks, who are practically slaves, though they have well-defined rights.
The Sultan's seraglio is adorned by the most beautiful women that Circassia can provide. Highest in rank is the mother of the heir to the throne, who possesses supreme privileges and a heavy dowry. The chief wives are next to her in station; and be- neath them are the inferior wives, and the odalisques. Every woman in the palace is at the beck of the .monarch.*
When a harem lady has been blessed by the admira-
Several of my facts are gathered from Miss Bowman-Dodd's " Palaces of the Sultan." ”

“ They play games and romp like children.
The Sultan has more than one palace, besides well- appointed houses for his favourite ikbals. These ladies live apart from the serai, and have their own guards and servants. They entertain their royal spouse in their own residences.*'
The slaves of the royal household fare as well as the ladies whom they attend ; and their lot is certainly easier than that of most servants in Christian countries. Mrs. Garnett thinks that, in many respects, the Turkish female slave is better off than the domestic servant of the West. ”

“ The slaves are selected for their youth and grace. In former days they were chosen in public, as in the Egyptian markets; but now the Sultan inspects the candidates in the harem, attended by the Chief Eunuch and other officers. These slave-girls are not treated with harshness, nor contempt. They have' dainty fare, charming dresses, and comfortable chambers. If one shows an aptitude for music, the best instructors are provided for her training. Danc- ing is taught to all the girls, and many excel in the art, and become favourite performers. ”

“ He is almost feared by the Sultan himself. Here, as in Egypt, the Kislar-aghasi is like a king. His salary is enormous, and when he retires, he is entitled to a liberal pension for the rest of his days. ”

“ The daughters and sisters of the Sultan sometimes marry husbands without royal lineage. In these cases the husbands are extremely submissive to their wives ; and they may not sit down in their presence without first asking permission. ”

“ Ancient marriage in Turkey was a matter of nego- tiation and arrangement, and not of capture, as among the Arabs and some other Eastern tribes. To this day marriage is largely under the direction of a third person, or several persons, besides the contracting partners. The matrimonial agency is an old institu- tion of the Ottoman Empire.
Although the great majority of Turks are married to one woman only, there are numerous harems in Constantinople and other towns. ”

“ In his own apartments, he is kept, uncontaminated by the outside world, under the direction of tutors and pro- fessors. It is true that he has several maidens and many servants to share his close seclusion. But his life is by no means idle and purposeless. ”