! are desired to sit down, or they retire. This, however, is to be understood of the grandees; for in ordinary life, both wives and daughters minister servilely to the men: the two sexes never sitting at table together. It is seldom that all the ladies of a Harem are, by the great man, seen assembled, unless they happen, in the summer, to be surprised sitting in the divan, where they meet to enjoy the cool air. At his approach, they all rise up, but, if desired, resume their places, (some of the slaves excepted) and return to their work. However loquacious they may have been before he entered, a respectful silence ensues the moment he appears: a restraint which they feel the less, from their being accustomed to it almost from their infancy. It is surprising how suddenly the clamour of children is hushed on the approach of the father; but the women often lament their want of power, in his absence, of quieting the children either by threats or soothing. Though the presence of the great man may impose silence on the younger ladies, he always finds some of the elderly matrons ready enough to entertain him, should be be disposed for conversation. In this manner he learns the domestic news of the town, which, though rarely a topic of discourse among the men, being in great request at the public baths, is circulated by the female pedlars, and the Bidoween attached to the harem. The former, who are chiefly Jewish or Christian women of a certam age, supply the ladies with gauzes, muslins, embroidery, and trinkets, and moreover have the art of collecting and embellishing all kinds of women private history; the latter are not less talkative, nor more secret, but possess also a licensed privilege of speaking freely to the men, which they perfectly know how to exercise. Their licence is derived from being often retained as nurses, by which they gain a permanent establishment in the family; the foster sister remaining attached to the harem, and in time succeeding her mother. The grandees, in these indolent hours, converse also on their own domestic affairs, and amuse themselves with their children. When they wish to be more retired, they withdraw to another apartment, into which no person, except the lady to whom it belongs, presumes to enter uncalled. The Turks, in presence of their women, appear to affect a more haughty, reserved air, than usual, and in their manner of speaking to them, are less courteous, and more abrupt, than they are to one another, or even to men who are much their inferiors. As this was frequently observed in persons remarkable for an affable deportment to. men, it may be considered rather as their usual manner than ascribed to the accidental preference of an European; and is farther confirmed by the ordinary behaviour of the boys, who talk to the women in an imperious manner, which they could only have learned from example. The men perhaps judge it politic to assume this demeanour, in a situation where dominion may be supposed to be maintained with more difficulty, than among their male dependants; and therefore venture only, in hours of retirement, to avow that gentleness, which, as if derogatory from their dignity, they think prudent, in their general conduct, to conceal, from persons whose obedience they believe believe can alone be secured, by an air of stern authority. The ladies, especially those of rank, appear reserved in regard to their husbands, while they shew an engaging, affectionate fondness for their brothers, though it is often returned with little more than frigid complaisance: as if their tender endearments were a tribute due to male superiority. There are times, however, when natural affection gets the better of this cold indifference of the young men. The sight of a sister in distress, or languishing in a fit of severe illness, often produces emotion, of which, judging from general appearances, they would seem to be insusceptible. The affectation of apathy, is a remarkable trait in the character of the Turks. They are led by it, under misfortunes, to assume an appearance oft ranquillity, more than they posses in reality; and, on other occasions, they strive to hide that sensibility which other nations think it honourable to indulge. Their exterior manners are universally marked by this affectation: their real feelings, influenced by the common springs of humanity, are more remote from the eye of observation. Persons of destinction, who are in office, leave the harem early in the morning, and, two hours after noon excepted, pass most of their time in the outer apartments. But others, who have little business, and the luxurious young men of all denominations, lounge many hours in their harem. Some allowance, in this respect, is made to youth, for some weeks after marriage; but an effeminate character, which is by no means respectable among the men, is far from being acceptable to the women. The presence of the men, at unusual hours in the day time, lays the whole harem under restraint, and however some particular favourite may be gratified by the particular attention of her lord, the rest of the women are apt to lament the liberty they are deprived of, by his remaining too much at home. The grandees, if slightly indisposed, continue to see company in the outer apartments; but when the disorder becomes serious, they retreat into the harem, to be nursed by their women: and in this situation, besides their medical attendants, and very near relations, no person whatever can have access, except on very urgent business. They make choice of the females they wish to have more immediately about their person, and one in particular is appointed to give an account to the physician, of what happens in the intervals of his visits, to receive his directions, and to see them duly obeyed. Medical people, whether Europeans or natives, have access to the harem, at all times when their at tendance is requisite. The physician, after being announced, is obliged to wait at the door till the way be cleared; that is, till his • When it is known that the physician is about to enter, the slave, who under takes to clear the way, gives notice by calling Amel Dirb! Anel Dirb! make way, make way; and returning after some time, says, si Dirb, the way is clear. patient patient, when a female, her company, and attendants, and others who might happen to be in the courts through which he must pass, have either veiled, or retired out of sight. He is then conducted to the chamber of the sick lady by a slave, who continues, in a loud voice, to give warning of his approach, by exclaiming, Dirb, Dirb, al Hakeem Gia-y. Way! Way! the doctor is coming: a precaution which does not always prevent the unveiled ladies, who have not been apprized, from accidentally crossing the court, in which case it becomes the wellbred physician to turn his eyes another way. Upon entering the chamber, he finds his patient covered with a loose veil, and, it being a vulgar notion that the malady may be discovered from the pulse, he is no sooner seated, than the naked wrist is presented for his examination.t She then describes her complaints, and, if it be necessary to look at the tongue, the veil is for that purpose removed, while the assistants keep the rest of the face, and especially the crown of the head, carefully co. vered. The women do not hesitate to expose the neck, the bosom, or the stomach, when the case requires those parts to be inspected, but, never without extreme reluct ance consent to uncover the head. Ladies whom I had known very young, and who, from long acquaintance, were careless in con. cealing their face from me, never appeared without a hankerchief or some other slight covering thrown over the head. So far as I could judge, from general practice, it seemed to be considered, in point of decorum, of more consequence to veil the head, than the face. The physician is usually entertained with tobacco and coffee. which, being intended as a mark of respect, cannot in civility be declined, though the compliance leads to an intemperate use of both. After he has examined, and given directions concerning his patient, he requests leave to retire, but is seldom allowed to escape without hearing the incurable complaints of as many valetudinary visitants, as happen to be present, who either sit ready veiled, or talk from behind a curtain occasionally suspended in the chamber. These ladies always consider themselves entitled to verbal advice, or at least to an opinion of such remedies, as have been recommended by others; and a principal part of the medical art, among the native practitioners, consists in being able to acquit themselves dexterously in such incidental consultations. In families which the European physician has been accustomed to attend, and when his patient is on the recovery, he is sometimes induced to protract the visit, and to gratify the curiosity of the ladies, who ask numberless questions, con * The native practioners give a sanction to this foolish notion. "I followed, in that respect, the example of my brother, who, except in fevers, always insisted on the sick giving an account of their complaints, before he would feel the pulse. ↑ I have been offered, sometimes, the wrist covered with thin muslin, but the Aleppo ladies in general ridicule that punctilio, and I always refused compliance with a piece of prudery not sanctioned by custom. Tournefort found the practice different in the harems he visited. Voyage, tom. i. p. 17. cerning cerning his country. They are particularly inquisitive about the Frank women, their dress, employments, marriages, treatment of children, and amusements. In return they are ingenuously communicative, and display talents, which, being little indebted to artificial cultiva tion, appear, as it were, to expand naturally, under a clear sky, and the influence of a delicious climate. Their questions are generally pertinent, and the remarks they occasionally make, on manners differing so widely from their own, are often sprightly and judicious. entreaty, threat, and reproach; till, finding all in vain, she gives fair warning, and has recourse to a never failing stratagem. She marches on, and bids the doctor follow. A com. plete route ensues; the damsels scamper different ways, catch hold of what ever offers first by way of veil, or attempt to conceal themselves behind one another. It is only when none of the men are in the harem, that this scene of romping can take place. When the physician is conducted by the aga himself, every thing passes in orderly silence, and, in the chamber of the sick, none besides the elderly or married relations offer to join in the conversation: but it is seldom that the aga himself takes the trouble, after the few first visits, except the doctor be a stranger to the family. T HE the same. When the visit is at length concluded, notice being given to clear the way, the physician sets out, preceded as before by the slave. But it rarely happens that he is not more than once stopped, to give advice to some of the domestics, who wait his return; for however slightly they may be indisposed, the temp- Account of the Turkish Ladies; from tation of telling their complaints to a doctor is irresistible. These damsels seldom have any any other veil, than a handkerchief thrown over the head, one corner of which is held in the mouth; but, in order to avoid even that trouble, they frequently place themselves behind a door, or a window shutter, half open, in which situation, thrusting out one arm, they insist on having the pulse examined. It sometimes happens, in the great harems, that another obstacle must be encountered be. fore regaining the gate. This arises from some of the younger ladies, or slaves, who are at work in the court, refusing peremptorily either to veil, or retire; which is done merely in sport, to vex the conductress who is obliged of course to make a halt. In vain she bawis Dirb! and makes use by turns of women, in their persons are rather engaging than handsome. It was remarked before, that they were pretty in infancy, but changed for the worse as they grew up: yet they retain for ever the fine piercing eye, and many to the last possess their exquisite features, though not their complection. They do not wear stays, and are at little pains to preserve their shape. In general they are low in stature, and such as are tall, for the most part, stoop. The women of condition affect a stately gait, but walk inelegantly, and the carriage of their body is devoid of that ease and air to which an European eye has been accostomed. The dress in which they appear abroad is not calculated to set off the person; the veil shews their shape to disadvantage, the legs are awkwardly concealed by the boots, and evenwithout them, their movement is not so elegantly easy as that of their arms: which may be the reason that they appear to most advantage when sitting on the divan. The transient manner in which the Turkish women can only be seen by a stranger renders it difficult, if not impossible, to speak decidedly of their beauty, in comparison with that of the women of other countries, who are seenwith more familiarity. Their dress and veil, which are so disadvantageous to their shape, may perhaps (the latter particularly) be of advantage to their looks. I have had occasion to see great numbers, and thought them, in general, handsomer than the Christian and Jewish ladies; but I was sometimes inclined to doubt whether that opinion might not, in some degree, be ascribed to seeing them partially, or when revealed in such a manner, as to give relief to their beauty: it is certain that many, whose faces I had at first thought exquisitely fine from under a loose veil, lost considerably when more exposed. Account of the Republic of San Marino. By Dr. Gillies, Author of the History of Greece; from Se ward's Anecdotes of distinguished Persons, &c. Afrome T the distance of twelve miles from Rimini and the Adriatic Sea, we beheld a cloud-capt mountain, steep, rugged, and inhospitable, yet to Britons, whose affection for their own happy island cherished even the faintest image of congenial liberty, more attractive and more engaging than all the gay luxuriance of Tuscan* plains. A black expansion of vapour partly concealed from our view, the territory of what theGreeks would have called a nation, seldom visited by strangers, though, assuredly most deserving of that honour. Liberty brightens and fertilizes the craggy rocks of St. Marino; and instead of paradises inhabited by devils (for thus the recollection or supposition of better times indignantly characterizes the countries through which we had just travelled,) this little state, we were told, would exhibit rugged hills and savage precipices cultivated and adorned by the stubborn industry of free men, who labour with alacrity, because they reap with security. We panted at the thoughts of taking a nearer survey of this political wonder, and were impatient to leave Rimini; but the country adjacent to that city was deluged with rain; the rivers continued to overflow; horses could not safely * The epithet, Tuscan, is justified by the authority of Polybius, l. ii. c. 14, and c. 17. He describes that extensive plain bounded by the Alps, the Appenines, and the Adriatic, and also the plains about Mola and Capua, called the Phlegræan Fields, as anciently inhabited by the Tuscans. The territory of this people, he says, formed incomparably the finest portion of Europe. Before Polybius wrote his history, the dominion of the Tuscans had contracted to a narrow span; and, according to the saying of the modern Italians, while the Pope posseses the marrow, the great duke of Tuscany has only the bones of Italy. clamber |