142 AFRICAN WANDERINGS.

reduced state, where I merely manage to live, I liave memories left me which I would not sell for any sum. Ah ! " he cried out, ''those putane belline, quest' vino buono, deloachti mafish ! (Now it's all over). " It is much better that I should have spent my money when young, than that after my death the divan should have got it all."

A Turk id in the right when he thinks thus; for, if it is possible, the divan manages one way or another to be heir to almost all. The widow of the dead man gets nothing, or so little it hardly supports her ; and if she is still young, she is forced to marry some other man of humbler rank. The younger children are placed in some establishment for education, the elder into the regiments, and the state pockets the property. Thus are high and low treated, if any gain can be made by it ; only the children of the former are usually appointed to some rank in the army. But it is not always that the state has time to wait till death : it knows other ways and means to get money. And this causes all, Turks and rayahs (subjects), to conceal and hide in every possible way from its pryinoeyes every symptom of riches or property. Every one complains of being poor, suffers privations, goes meanly dressed, lets the outside of his house fall into decay, has in his reception-chamber his worst carpets and furniture, &c. &c., while in the interior of his house, and especially in his hai'em (charim), all is luxury and abundance ; his wives shine in silken robes and costly jewels, and are waited on by numerous slaves of every colour. Incense perfumes their rooms, the most splendid Persian carpets of the richest, freshest, and gayest colours, cover divans and floors,—and he, poor man, casts off his dirty, shabby clothes, wipe's from his face his assumed humility and obsequiousness, and become sa man. Rich robes cover the cooling silken shirt, costly Cashmere shawls girdle his loins, and form the stately Turk ; yellow shoes or slippers adorn his feet; and, perfumed with fragrant scents, he strides now with all gravity, as lord and master, into his inner apartments, where all are at his orders. At the doors the guards of his earthly paradise humbly await him, the wretched eunuchs (Tauwasch), as slowly and stately he approaches the circle of his women, haughtily returning the reverent salutations. His long pipe with precious amber mouth-piece (Tarkib) is brought him, the loved Gebbeli