In The Harem

For the service of the harem as at present constituted slaves are indispensable, it being unlawful for a frce Moslem woman to appear unveiled before any man not a near relative, while to a slave, whí is the property of her master mistress, no such restriction es so far as they are concernert. Since the abolition of the public slave market the private trade in slaves has become much inore general and widely spread than it formerly was, and is car-" rijd on to a great exteut by ladies of rank, some of whom are themselves emancipated slaves. In addition to the negresses and other women of unattractive exterior, to whom the menial duties of the household are assigned, these lady dealers pay large sums for pretty children of from 6to 10 years of age, who are carefully trained for the higher positions they will probably be called upon to occupy. Many Turks prefer, for various reasons, to mairy women who have been brought up as slaves. Marriags with a free woman is, indeed, a very expensive matter for a young bridegroom and his parents, owing to the lavish outlay in presents and entertainments required by custom on such occasions. Consequently if a, father cannot affrrd to marry his son to a lady of hls orn rank, he purchases for him a slave girl who has been educated in some lady's harem, and no expense i? incurred beyond the purchase money A slave, having no position of her own, is submissive and obedient to, and anxious to please her lord and master, has no úroublesome pretensions or caprices, and ':■■:■ iüterfering relatives to take her part against him. A free woman on the other hand, is by no means disposed to have, according to her own expression, "neither mouth noi tongue." She is fully aware of hei rights, and inclined to assert them, and the moral support afforded by her family gives her an assurance which the husband often finds extremely inconvenient.