In The Harem

For the service of the harem as at present constituted alavés are Indispensable, it being unlawfiü for a free Moslem woman to appear uaveiled before any man not a near relativa, whlle to a slave, who is the property of her master or mistress, no such restriction attaches so far as they are concerned. Since the abolltion of the public slave market the private trade in slaves has become much more general and widely spread than it formerly was, and is carried on to a great exteut by ladies of rank, some of whom are themselves emancipated slaves. In addition to the negreases 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 6 to 10 years of age, who are carefully trained for the higher posltions they will probably be called upon to occupy. Many Turks prefer, for various reasons, to mairy womea who have been brought up as slaves. Marriage vita a free woman is, indeed, a very expensive matter for a young bridegrooin ana nis pareuis, uwiug iu the lavish outlay in presents and entertainments required by custom on suca occasions. Consequently if a father caanot afffrd to marry his son to a lady of his own rank, he pjirchases for liim a slave girl who has heen eclucated in some iady'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 aasious to please her lord and master, has no íroablesome pretensions or caprices, and cö Interfering 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 eiprsssion, "neither mouth noi tongue." She is fully aware of hei rlghts, and inclined to assert them, and the moral support afforded by her famHy gives har an assurance which the husband often flnds extremely inconvenient.