the governess in egypt - harem life in egypt & constantinople - lott 1865 - vol 1
TRANSCRIPT
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PRINCETON,
N.
J.
Purchased
by the
Hammill
Missionary Fund.
Division
2X7.0.
Section
.L88
Number...
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Digitized
by
the
Internet
Archive
in
2015
https://archive.org/details/haremlifeinegypt01lott
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THE
GOVERNESS IN
EGYPT.
HAEEM
LIFE
IN
EGYPT
AND
CONSTANTINOPLE.
BY
I
emmelixe'lott,
FORMERLY
GOVERNESS
TO
HIS
HIGHNESS THE GRAND
PACHA,
IBRAHIM,
SON
OF
HIS
HIGHNESS
ISMAEL
PACHA,
VICEROY OF EGYPT.
IN
TWO
VOLUMES.
VOL
I.
LONDON
:
RICHARD BENTLEY,
NEW
BURLINGTON
STREET,
publisher
in
(Dririirarg
to
f?tr
glajcstg.
1865.
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DEDICATED
TO
HIS
HIGHNESS
ISMAEL PACHA
$c.
8fc.
VICEROY
OF EGYFT
BY
HIS HIGHNESS'S MOST
HUMBLE
AND DEVOTED
SERVANT
THE
AUTHORESS.
October,
1865.
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What
precious things I found in Oriental lands,
Returning home,
I brought
them
in
my
votive hands.
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PKEFACE.
Upwards of
a
century has
rolled away
since
that graceful,
unaffected, but
perhaps too scru-
pulous
epistolary
writer,
the accomplished and
charming
Lady
Mary
Montague/' accompanied
her
caro sposo,
Mr. Edward
Wortley
Montague,
to
Constantinople,
when
he
was
appointed
Ambassador
to the
Sublime
Porte.
In the
eighteenth
century,
that
Princess
of
Female Writers
published
in
her
Letters
an
account
of
her
visits
to
some
of
the
Harems
of
the elite
of the
Turks
of
that
period.
She
had
no
need
to propitiate
that
all-
powerful
Sovereign
Prince
of the Ottoman
Empire,
Baksheesh,
who, whatever
may
be
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vi
PREFACE.
his
demerits
as
a
statesman, stands
forth,
in
the
present
age,
most prominently
as the
pre-
cursor
of
civilization
in the
Turkish
dominions,
and for
whom
a most brilliant
future
is
in
prospect
to obtain ingress therein. Her
rank
and
position
were the Telecem,
talisman,
which threw
open to
her
the heavy
ponderous
portals,
drew
back the massive
double-bolted
doors,
turned
the
weighty
keys
(for
they
are
enormously
large)
within their
intricate
Hobbs-like
wards, let
fly
the
secret
springs
such is
the mechanism
of the
formidable
outward
barriers
which
protect
the
huge
gates
of those
dragon-guarded
palatial
mansions
and
gave her access to those
forbidden
Abodes
of
Bliss
of
the
stolid,
sensual,
and
indolent
Blue Beards
of
the
East.
Nevertheless,
her handsome
train,
Lady
Am-
bassadress
as she was,
swept
but
across the
splendid
carpeted floors
of
those noble Saloons
of
Audience,
all of
which had
been, as
is in-
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PREFACE.
vii
variably
the
custom,
well
swept and
gar-
nished for her
reception.
The interior
of
those
Harems were to
her
Ladyship
a
terra
incognita,
and
even
although
she passed
through
those
gaudy
halls
like
a
beautiful
meteor,
all was
couleur
de rose, and not the
slightest opportunity
was
permitted
her
to
study
the
daily
life
of the
Odalisques.
True,
she
had
witnessed
the
Strange
fascination of
Eastern
gorgeousness, reverie,
and
passion
;
but
yet,
as
she
had
not
been
allowed
to
pene-
trate beyond
the reception
halls,
nor
to
pollute
the
floors
of the
chambers of
those
Castles
of
Indolence
with
her
defiling footsteps, the
social
manners,
habits,
and
customs
of
the
Creme
de
la
Creme of
both
Turkish
and
Egyptian
noblesse,
and the Star
Chamber of
Ottoman intrigue,
were
to her
all
unexplored
regions.
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viii
PREFACE.
It
was
reserved
to
a
humble
individual
like
myself, in
my
official
capacity
as
Governess
to
His
Highness the
Grand
Pacha
Ibrahim,
the
infant
son of
H.
H.
Ismael
Pacha,
the
Viceroy
of
Egypt,
the
grandson
of
Mahomet
Ali,
the
Eegenerator
of
Egypt, and
the son of
that
gallant warrior,
the
renowned
Ibrahim
Pacha,
to
become
the unheard-of
instance
in the
annals
of
the
Turkish Empire,
of residing
within
those
foci
of
intrigue,
the Imperial
and
Viceregal
Harems
of
Turkey
and
Egypt
;
and
thus
an opportunity
has
been afforded me
of,
Asmodeus-like,
uplifting
that
impenetrable
veil,
to
accomplish
which had hitherto
baffled
(like
that
of
a
European's
pilgrimage
to Mecca,
until
so
bravely
and
successfully
accomplished
by
the
gallant
Captain Burton)
all the
exer-
tions of
Eastern
travellers.
The
object
of
the
following
Work
is to
disclose
to
European
society
Life
in
the
Harems of
Egypt and
Constantinople,
which cannot
but be
consi-
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PREFACE.
;
ix
tiered
as
secret
institutions
for the
corruption
of
women.
It
has
been
my
aim
to
give
a
concise
yet
impartial
and
sympathetic account
of
the
daily
life
of the
far-famed Odalisques
of
the
nineteenth
century
those
mysterious
impersonifications
of Eastern
loveliness. With
what
success
I have
achieved this
difficult
task
is
left
to
the
judgment of
the public
to
determine.
London,
October,
1865.
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CONTENTS
OF
VOL. I.
CHAPTER
I.
Arrival at
Alexandria
Instructions
to
proceed
to
Cairo
H.
H.'s
Partners
Journey
by
Railway
Fellow-Travellers
The
Greek
Merchant
and
Frankfort Jew
Arrival
at
Tantah
The
Viceroy's private
Despatches
European
Ladies
A
Greek's
Description
of Harem
Life
Dr.
Abbot's
Museum
The
Chief
Eunuch
Solyman
Pacha
the
MagnificentHis
In-
novations
the
Viceregal
Family
Jealousy
of
the
Princess
Difficulties of my
Position
Power of
the
Grand
Eunuch.
Page
1
CHAPTER
II.
The
actual Rulers of EgyptPrince Baksheesh
Intrigues
of
the
Harem
Their
Results
H. H.'s
Men
of
BusinessIsmael
Pacha, the
Billionaire
Merchant Prince
Dietary
of
the Vice-
regal Household
The
Atmosphere in the HaremsArab
Nurses
Monotonous
Life
The
Turkish
Value of the
Fair
Sex
The Freedom enjoyed
by the Turkish and
Egyptian
Ladies of the
Harem
Opinion of
the East as regards
Women
Their true
Value
in
Egypt
Laxity
of European
Morals
in
the
East
How
Peris
of the West
are
procured for the Blue
Beards
of
the
East
The Secret of
the
Aggrandizement
of
Europeans
in the Ottoman Dominions
Effects
of
the Crimean
War upon the LevantinesHow Frankfort
J
e
ws
have
become
Millionaires
in
the
East
A
parvenue Merchant's
Career
in
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Xll
CONTENTS.
Egypt
The
All-powerful
Ruler ofEgypt
Prince
Baksheesh's
Influence
Autobiography
of
the
Egyptian
Rothschilds
Messrs.
H.'s
Career
A
Crimean
Sulbr
H.H.
the
Viceroy's
Associates
in Commerce
Mr.
B.
of
Cairo
Arrival at
Cairo
Singular
Incident
at
Zech's
Hotel
The
Antiquary
How
Europeans
in
Egypt work the Oracle
Sale
of
a Mummy
The
Italian
Apothecary
The
Cairo
Morgue
The
Anti-
quary's
FJight
The Hotel
Proprietor's
Legacy
The Small
Change
current in Egypt
The
Circulating Medium in the
Harems
Departure
for Mr.
B.'s
Page
23
CHAPTER
III.
Arrival
at
Mr.
B.'s
His Residence
and
Establishment
His
Arab
Mistress
My
Reception
H.
H.'s
Attention
My
Re-
monstrance
at
leaving
the
Hotel
Virtually
a
Prisoner
The
Carte
My
Meals
Cuisine
a
l'Arabe
The
Banker's
Occupa-
tions
Another
English
Governess
at the
Hotel
Her Depar-
ture
from
Cairo
Regain my Liberty
A
Scene
from
the
Balcony
The Viceregal
Glimpse
at
the
GovernessThe Vice-
regal
Cortege
Page
42
CHAPTER
IV.
Introduction
to Messrs.
H.
The Skeleton
in
the
Viceregal
Closet
Why spirited
away from
Zech's
Miss
T.'s
Indiscretion
My Duties
as
Governess
Fears
lest
the Prince should
be
poisoned
Stipend
increased
Monotonous
Life
Surveillance
kept
over
me
Contemplated Resignation
Change of
Diet
How my Time
was passed at
the
Banker's
Interview
with Mr.
C.
H.
His
Want
of Courtesy
I decline to enter
+
he
Harem
on a
SundayThe
old
German
Housekeeper.
Page 48
CHAPTER
V.
The
Schoolmaster
Abroad
The
Maich
of
Intellect in the
East
Departure
from
the Banker's at Cairo
Across
the
Nile
Arrival at
Ghezire
H. H.'s
Barge
Arab
Rowers
The
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CONTENTS.
Xlll
Harem
Stairs
The Grand
Eunuch
Character of the
Eunuchs
Their
Manner
towards
the Fair
Sex
Subservience
to
Prince
Baksheesh
Their
Contempt
for
Christians
Dafay's
History
The
Grand
Eunuch's
Duties
The
Seven
Headings
of the
Koran
His
Conduct towards
me
Their Anxiety
to
obtain
Information
The
Princesses Baksheesh
Prohibition
to
give
Baksheesh
The Prophet's Seventh Heaven
Biickert
the
German
Orientalist.
The Moslem
Heavens
The True
Paradise
The
Ninth Heaven
Where
Infants
are
Flowers
The
Spirits
of departed
Friends
Why
Turks
dislike
Dogs
The
Exterior
of
the
Viceroy's
Harem at Ghezire
The
Harem
Courtyard
The
Arabs,
how
employed
there
The
Stone
Hall
The
Grand
Staircase
The Chief Eunuch
An
Opium
E
ter
The
Lady Superintendent of
the
Slaves
The
Slaves
how
they
obtain
Riches
Of
what
Nations
composed
How
cared
for
in
old
Age The Nurses
Want
of
Furniture
in the
Apartments
The
Princesses' Wardrobe-room
The
Bed
Re-
pository
The
Princesses'
Dressing-room
The
Mahogany
Cupboard
The Curiosity
Shop
in
the Harem
H.
H.
the
Princess
Epouse
Her
Appearance
Costume
H.
H.
the
Grand
Pacha
Ibrahim His
Costume
His
Reception
of the
Governess
The
Ladies
of
the
Harem
Their
Costume
Jewellery
The
White Slaves
My
Private Installation
into
Office
Page 56
CHAPTER
VI.
My
Tour
of
Inspection
of
the Apartments
The
Stone
Halls
The
Reservoir
The
Coffee-room
The
German
Laundry-
maid's
Dormitory
The
Bath, when
used
The
Bath
Women
The
Laundry
Daily
Life
among
the
Slaves
Washing-
days
H.
H.
the
Grand Pacha's
Suite of
Apartments
The
Prince
not
domiciled
in
the
Harem
A
Description
of
the
Cage
Cafess
How
the
Princes
confined
therein
occupied
their
Time
Abolition
of
Mutes
The
Conduct
of
the
Princes
when
released
from
their
thraldom
Dr.
Abbott's
Work
on
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xiv
CONTENTS.
Egypt
The Prince's
State
Apartments
The
Princesses'
Dormitories
The
Governess's
Chamber
The YouUs
Want
of Furniture in
the
Harem
Mahomet
Ali's
Repudiation
of
the Prophetic
Prohibition
against
Portrait
Painting
a
la
Turque Furnished
Rooms
H.
H. Ismael Pacha's resemblance
to
his
Father
Ibrahim
Pasha The
Hall
of Audience
De-
stitute
of Furniture
An Harem
Bouquet
Turkish Time,
how regulated
Awkwardness
of
the
Ladies of the
Harem
on
Chairs
H. H. the Princess Epouse surrounded
by
her Suite
Her
Position
on the Divan
The
CigarettesEconomy
the
Order
of
the Day
Her Highness's Appearance on
the Divan
H. H.
the Grand Pacha
My
Official
Installation
into Office.
Page
78
CHAPTER
VII.
Behaviour of
the
Slaves
The
Ladies of the
Harem
Their
Manner
towards
me
Their
Admiration of
my
Dress
Astonishment
at my
Crinoline
Innovation in
the Dress
of
Turkish
LadiesTheir
Surprise
at
my
Manner of Walking
The
Turkish
Mode
of
calling
Domestics
My
Luncheon
The
Soofra
The
Slaves' Surprise
Zarfs
of
Coffee
Cigarettes
Their
Offer declined
Breach of Turkish
Etiquette
How the
Prince
amused
himself
A
Benich,
Promenade
My
New
Title
The
Attendants
Costume
A Greek H.
H.
Ibrahim's
Head
Nurse
Her
Appearance
Costume
Company in
my
Chamber
My Room
Its
Inconveniences
My
Bed
My
Orders
A Walk
through the
Harem
Gardens
The
Sheet
of
Water
Pagoda
Pleasure
Boat
Aquatic
Birds
Marble
Kiosk
The
Gardens
Their Beauty
and Picturesqueness
The
Maze
A
Merry-go-round
WaterworksMarble
Statues
Colossal
Figure of
the
Goddess
Ceres
The Four
Cherubims
The
Lower
Basin
Marble
Paved Verandah
The
Swings
Their
Shape
Moved
by
Mechanism
Beautiful Hall
Elegant
Room
How fitted upH. H.
the
Viceroy's
Pavilion
Why
the
Princesses
do
not
use the
Gardens
The
Com-
parison
with
those
of
England
By
whose
Orders
con
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CONTENTS.
XV
structed
Ibrahim
Pacha
The Lake
How supplied
Murray's
erroneous
Impression
respecting
the
Viceregal Palaces
Descrip-
tion
of
H.
H.'s Pavilion
The
Beauty of
the Rooms
Their
Ele-
gance
The Saloon
The
Small
Drawing-roomTheDining-room
How
curiously
furnished
Stuffed
Animals
The
Menagerie
The
Grand
Pacha frightened
Collection
of
Animals
Moved
by
Mechanism
The Den
of
Wild Beasts
Ibrahim
Pachas
Dispo-
sition
His
Object
in
selecting these Animals
His
Mania
for
making Money
The
Bed
Chambers
How
Furnished
The
Bed
Divan
Toilet
Table
Ebony
Cabinet
Jewel
Casket
Stove
The
Gardens
How
Irrigated
Cuttings
Nile
Water
Dykes
Bridge
of
Planks
The Barracks
How
arranged
Soldiers'
and
Officers'
Quarters
all
Windowless
The
Tatterdemalions
Turkish
Men
never undress
How
employed
Their
Rations
Crude
Vegetables
The
Turkish
Sentinels' Refrain
H.
H.'s
Sugar
Refinery
Quantity annually
produced
How
clarified
The
Black Diamonds
Page
96
CHAPTER
VIII.
be
Ladies of
the Harem's Room
Her
Highness's
Staff of
Slaves
His
Highness
the
Grand
Pacha
Ibrahim
at
Supper
The
Carte
Specimens
of Cuisine
a
l'Arabe
The Pastry
The
Desert
The
Beverages
How the Head
Nurse helps
the
Prince at his
Meals
The
little Princesses
at Supper
What becomes
of
the Bread
that
falls
upon the
Floor
Bread
Balls
How made The
Slaves' Diet
Arab
Bread
Short
Commons
No Bread
in the
Harem
The Slaves
understand
Purloining
Washing
of
Hands
after
Supper
The
Substitute
for
Towels
Appearance of
the
Tray after Meals
The
Nurses
at
Supper
What
becomes
of
the
Remnants
or
Scraps
No
separate
Table
for
the
Slaves
The
Scene in the Reception
Hall
after
Supper
The
Viceregal
Nursery
and its
Occupants
H.
H.'s
Bed
The
Little
Princesses'
Beds
The
Prince in
his
Night Attire
Ceremony observed
How
put to
Sleep
Occupation
of H. H.
the
Princess
Epouse,
his Mother
Employment
of
the
Nurses
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XVI
CONTENTS.
Hour of
Retirement
Immense
Musquito
Curtain
H(
arranged
The
Governess at
Supper
Her
Companion
Carte
Beverages
Eetires
to
her
Chamber
Bed
Eeflectio
upon my
Position
Messrs.
H.
and Mr. B.'s
Neglect
How
could
have
been
supplied
with
European Diet and
all
Com;
niences
Behaviour of
H. H. the Viceroy's
(Civil) Aide-de-Can
.
The
Prussians'
Dislike
to the
English
A
Substitute for
B>
Linen
No
Slave
appointed
to
attend
upon
me
Locked in
Night
A
Prisoner within
the Harem Walls
The Fastening
the Gates
The
Realities
of
my
Position
Solitude
in
a
Crowd
A
Dilemma
No
Chair
No Table
My
Substitutes
How
commenced
my
Incidents
of Harem Life .... Page
1
El
-E
P
Gard
CHAPTER
IX.
Menial
Offices
required
of me
My
Refusal
H. H. the
Princes
Arrangement
Domestic Life
in
the
Harem
Hours
of Rising
Unlocking
of the
Gates
Slaves and
Ladies of
the
Harem
Early
Risers
No
Change
of
Dress
Bed Storeroom
Hous
hold
Arrangements
H.
H. the Grand Pacha's
Morning
Toil
Marks
on his Legs
Mode
of washing
the
Prince
Substitu
for Towels
His Habiliments
The Cords and Charms
attach
^
to
his
Person
Their
Uses
The
Silver
Box
Its
Contents
Cypress Box
Its Contents
The
Pieces
of
Mahomet's
Coffin-
Head Washing
Ornament
in his
Fez
Antidote
against Fits-
Charm
against
the Evil
Eye
The large
Turquoise
Its Use-
The
Symmets
Their
DistributionThe
Prince's
Vagaries
T.
Silver
Brazier
Its
Contents
and
Use
The
KitchenWhe
situated
The
Meals, how brought
to
the
Harem
Where
plac