The Governess in Egypt - Harem Life in Egypt & Constantinople - Lott 1865 - Vol 1

7/26/2019 The Governess in Egypt - Harem Life in Egypt & Constantinople - Lott 1865 - Vol 1

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PRINCETON,

N.

J.

Purchased

by the

Hammill

Missionary Fund.

Division

2X7.0.

Section

.L88

Number...

Vr...|


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4/353

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.


8/353


9/353

DEDICATED

TO

HIS

HIGHNESS

ISMAEL PACHA

$c.

8fc.

VICEROY

OF EGYFT

BY

HIS HIGHNESS'S MOST

HUMBLE

AND DEVOTED

SERVANT

THE

AUTHORESS.

October,

1865.


10/353

What

precious things I found in Oriental lands,

Returning home,

I brought

them

in

my

votive hands.


11/353

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


12/353

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-


13/353

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.


14/353

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-


15/353

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.


16/353


17/353

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


18/353

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


19/353

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


20/353

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


21/353

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


22/353

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

Documents

The Governess in Egypt - Harem Life in Egypt & Constantinople - Lott 1865 - Vol 1