them being cut into steaks, and broiled upon live charcoal, portions of which were distributed to every person in, about, and in the vicinity of the Harem.

At the doors of each apartment were placed Sèvres china bowls of sour milk, and custards on trays, when every one as they entered took some of them, and helped themselves to the Turkish sweetmeats, bonbons, cakes, fruit, &c.

In fact, the whole time from morning to night was one continual scene of gourmandizing and paying visits. At five o'clock in the morning the inmates of the Harem arrayed themselves en grande toilette, and went to pay their Highnesses the Princesses, the three wives, a visit, at the same time presenting each with a gift, the value of which they returned tenfold by bestowing baksheesh, in the shape of sums of money, jewellery, and dresses, upon them. When dresses were given, they invariably comprised three muslins and a silk one. Upon this occasion I took H. H. the Grand Pacha with me into their Highnesses' rooms, when they all saluted her with the expression, "Bairum, Madame," and each handed

me a small packet of paras, gold coins as baksheesh.

Her Highness the Lady Paramount wore upon this occasion a pink satin robe, trimmed with black lace and silver thread ribbon, with full trousers of the same material. Around her head was a white gauze handkerchief embroidered with gold. On her forehead she wore a tiara of large pansies in diamonds; round her neck was a costly necklace of the same flowers with emerald leaves, and large pear-shaped pearl drops, as big as pigeon's eggs, were suspended from the centre. Her arms were ornamented with two massive gold bracelets, on one of which, contrary to the express command of Mahomet, their Prophet, was the portrait of H. H. the Viceroy Ismael Pacha, dressed in his rich Turkish uniform with fez set in brilliants, which she very kindly took off and handed to me. I looked at them some time, and when I returned them His Highness inquired of me how I liked them? To which I replied that they were Guzel! Guzel! "Beautiful! beautiful!"

Her armlets were of large pear-shaped opals,

DISPLAY OF JEWELS.

5

which hung suspended like drops, between which was set a large diamond. On her little finger on the right hand, she wore a magnificent sapphire ring, about the size of a walnut, and on the same finger of the left was a rose pink diamond ring. Her waist was encircled with a gold band fastened with diamond clasps, into which was tucked her gold watch encrusted with brilliants, the Albert chain of which, an inch broad, was composed of diamonds and emeralds. The watch was fastened to the side of the gold band by a gold watch hook, attached to which was a very small silk bag, studded with brilliants, containing the keys of her cash-box and jewel-cases, with which she never parted by night or day. Her feet were encased in pink silk stockings and high-heeled embroidered white satin shoes. In her left hand she carried a richly gold embroidered muslin handkerchief, and in her right hand she held a pink satin purse, more like a bag than anything else, richly embroidered with pearls, containing small gold Egyptian coins for baksheesh.

I must here observe that I have often seen

their Highnesses amuse themselves by sticking a number of these coins all over H. H. the Pacha's face, and then sending him laughing out of their apartment, and, as a matter of course, they were eagerly picked off by the head nurse, whose perquisite they became.

On

Her Highness the Princess Epouse, the mother of my Prince, was attired in a rich blue figured silk robe, trimmed with white lace and silver thread, with a long train; full trousers of the same material, high-heeled embroidered satin shoes to match the dress. her head she had a small white crape handkerchief, elegantly embroidered with blue silk and silver, and round it was placed a tiara of May blossoms in diamonds. She wore a necklace to correspond, having large sapphire drops hanging down on her neck. Her arms were ornamented with three bracelets composed of diamonds and sapphires, and an armlet entirely of sapphires of almost priceless value. This was par excellence, the veriest bijou I had yet seen amidst all the galaxy of jewellery of precious stones which adorned any of their Highnesses' persons, although at times my eyes,

THE BABA WEARS A HAT.

7

when looking at the bedizened Peris arrayed in all their gems, have become as dim as if I had been fixing them on the gorgeous noonday sun in any eastern clime. eastern clime. In her bosom she wore a broach containing H. H. the Viceroy's portrait in European costume, with-hear it not, ye Moslems!—a hat on, having two circles of diamonds around it. Upon looking at it, it recalled to my recollection Ben Jonson's celebrated lines:

"This figure that thou here seest put,
It is for princely Ismael Pacha cut;
Wherein the graver had a strife
With Nature to outdo the life :

O could he but have drawn his wit

As well in brass, as he hath hit

His face, the portrait would then surpass

All that was ever writ in brass :
But since he cannot, reader, look
Not on his picture, but in this book."

On the little finger on her right hand she wore a large bright yellow diamond ring, of almost untold value, and on that of the left an enormous white diamond. Her waist was encircled with an elastic gold band, having as clasps two crocodile heads in diamonds and