TURKISH SUPERSTITION. 237 a very pretty small gold ring which I wore on my little finger. It was twisted in the shape of a serpent, having two rubies placed in the head for the eyes, and the scales were exquisitely enamelled. His Highness took a fancy to it, upon which I took it off my finger, made him bokshalik, “a present" of it, and placed it on the second finger of his right hand, with which he salaams. Her Highness the first wife having admired it, owing to its being in the form of a serpent (as such is valued by the Arabs as a token of immortality, because snakes shed their skin annually), offered to give me a superb diamond ring, valued at 500l., off her own finger, if the little Prince would let Her Highness have it; but that he most positively refused to do, at which his mother, the Princess Epouse, smiled. The head-nurse, Shaytan, having seen me place it upon the Grand Pacha's finger, and hearing that Her Highness the Lady Paramount had coveted it, as soon as she took him into his bedroom, under pretence of changing his pantaloons, began to wrench the ring off his finger, as it fitted tight, and His Highness was re luctant to part with it. In the struggle to accomplish her vile object of stealing the ring, she tore away a piece of his flesh, as she lacked the sense to moisten his hand with water, in order to slip it off easily, and he shrieked out most lustily, which brought myself, the ladies of the Harem, Grand Eunuch, and slaves, into his apartment. As soon as I looked at his finger, I perceived that the ring was missing, when I immediately desired her to produce it. H. H. the Princess Epouse, who had by this time entered the room, glanced most angrily at the head-nurse, who then handed me the ring, which the Princess took into her own keeping, and ever after it remained in her jewel-case, and was only worn by H. H. the Grand Pacha on grand occasions, but is highly prized on account of its shape, for anything in the form of a crocodile is considered by the Egyptians as a very lucky omen. Hence so many of the doors at Cairo have figures of that animal sculptured over them. PREPARATIONS FOR A STATE VISIT. 239 CHAPTER X. EARLY, long before break of day, on the morning after the loss of the Elmas, the whole of the inmates of the Harem at Bebek were up and stirring, as their Highnesses the Validè Princess and the Princess Epouse were going to pay their state visit to the Validè Sultana (the Sultan's mother), at the Sultan's Palace, as the Imperial Harem, at which the Validè Sultana was then staying, is situated within the palace. It is entered by two most exquisitely-gilded bronze gates, the portals of which are strictly guarded by several eunuchs, who will not even allow the Kislar Agaci to enter therein without the express orders of His Sublime Majesty. It is almost impossible to describe the hurry and confusion that reigned in the whole estab lishment. caïques, of various descriptions, were ranged about the palace landing-place, and two regiments of soldiers, in full-dress uniforms, mounted guard. Then commenced the loading of the heavy caïques with those costly treasures of which I have previously given a description, as having been shipped on board the frigate at Alexandria. At five o'clock upwards of fifty Her Highness the Validè Princess wore on this grand occasion a most magnificently rich white satin robe, elaborately embroidered with gold thread, pearls, diamonds, and various coloured silks. Her long train was trimmed with flounces of very deep point lace and flowers, and the bodice was ornamented with a rich lace bertha and gold ribbons. stomacher was composed of large diamonds, sapphires, and rubies, which matched the rich embroidery of the dress most admirably. The Her head was covered with a beautiful pink gauze handkerchief, around which was placed a splendid tiara of costly diamonds, composed of crescents, stars, and palm-leaves, forming the Sultan's crest. Her arms were DRESS OF THE VALIDE PRINCESS. 241 ornamented with beautiful sapphire and spotless opal bracelets. Her feet were encased in white silk stockings, white satin shoes, embroidered with coloured silks, pearls, gold and silver thread, with high gold heels, over which she wore a pair of yellow morocco boots. Her waist was encircled with a belt of sapphires. On her fingers she wore several diamond rings, many of the stones of which were almost as large as the celebrated Koh-i-noor diamond, since it has been cut. Her cloak was of rich sky-blue satin, lined with white satin, and over her face she wore a superb Brussels veil, one end of which was placed over the head, and the other crossed over the mouth and nose, then passed round the back of the neck and tucked down under the cloak. She carried in her hand a very handsome blue silk parasol, lined with white satin, trimmed with rich bullion fringe, and having a gold handle, encrusted with agates, amethysts, corals, diamonds, emeralds, hyacinths, jaspers, opals, pearls, rubies, topazes, and turquoises. Her Grand Eunuch carried over her head a rich sky-blue silk umbrella, with a mother-of |