Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1852 Excerpt: ...women, is under the rigid superintendence of one or more oosta, who take charge of all matters concerning dress, discipline, and diet. The whole body are fed from the imperial kitchens. Each oda is served apart. The kadinns have all separate and equal establishments, consisting of some twenty-four women, forming odas, and called oda of the first, second, or third kadinn: as we should say, Princess Mary's, or the Duchess of Gloucester's household. The seven great ladies have their distinct establishments. The gedeklik, who are allowed two negress slaves each, also form a distinct chamber. None of the slaves receive wages, but they are frequently regaled with presents of money, jewellery, and various requisites for the toilet. All articles of female attire susceptible of being made within the harem, are the handiwork of its fair inmates, who set the fashions for the ladies of Stamboul; so that the expression, "seraglio fashion," is as common among the citizens as that of court fashion with Christian nations. Abundant arid costly materials are provided for the purpose, and are distributed to the odas, through the medium of their responsible oostas. Some idea may be formed of the expense of the harem toilets from the fact, that it is contrary to etiquette for kadinns, and those who attend upon the sultan, to appear twice before the monarch in the same entary (robe) and shalwars (trousers); and that the kaftans, or pieces of brocaded silk or embroidered muslin required for a dress, generally average 101. sterling. Add to this jewels, trinkets, shawls, perfumery, and linen, and the expenditure will be found immense.f Georgia formerly rivalled with Circassia in furnishing the fairest inmates to the "abode of felicity;" but since the provinces o...
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