In The Harem

For the service of the harem as at present constituted slaves are indispensable, it being unlawful for a free Mosiem woman to appear unveiled before any man not a near relative, while to a slave, who is the property of her i master or mistress, no such restriction attaches so far as they are concerned. Since the abolition 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 ernancipated slaves. In addition to th 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 6 to 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 brcught up as slaves. Marriage vith a free woman is, indeed, a very expensive matter for a young bridegroom and his parents, owing to the lavlsh outlay in presents and entertainments required by custom on such occasions. Consequently if a father cannot afford to marry his son to a lady of his oy.n rank, he purchases for him a slave girl who has been educated ín some lady's harem, and no expense is incurred beyond the purehase money A slave, having no position of her own, Is submissive and obedient to, and anxlous to please her lord and master, has no Iroublesome pretenslons or caprices, and -0 interferí:) g relatlves to také her part against him. A free woman on the othe? hand, is by no means disposed to have, according to her own expression, "neither mouth noi tongue." She is fully aware of her rights, and lnclined to assert them, and the moral support afforded by her famlly gives hjr an assuranee whleh the husband often finds extremely inconveaienL