In The Harem

For the service of the harem as at present constituted slaves are Indispensable, it being unlawfiü for a free Moslem woman to appear nveiled before any man not a near relative, while to a slave, who is the property of her master or mistress, no such restriction attaches so far as they are concerned. Since the abolition of the public slavo market the private trade in slaves has become much more general and widely spread than lt formerly was, and is carricd on to a great exteut by ladies of rank, some of whom are themselves emancipated slaves. ïn addition to tfcC 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 wiü probamy De caneu upon to occapy. Many Turks prefer, for varlous reasons, to marry women who have been brcught up as slaves. Marriags wilh a free woman is, indeed, a very expensive matter for a young bridegroorn and his parents, owing to the lavish 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 o-vrn rank, tae purchases for liim a slave girl who has been educated ín some lady's harem, and no expense is incurred beyond the purchase money A slave, having no position of her own, Is submissive and obedient to, and lous to please her lord and master, has uo Iroublesome pretensions or caprices, and M iiiterfering relatives to take her part against him. A free woman on the other nand, is by no means disposed to have, according to her owd expression, "neither mouth noi torigue." She is fully aware of her rlghts, and inclined to assert them, and the moral support afforded by her famlly gives hjr an assurance which th husband often finds extremely inconrenient.