Page:A child of the Orient (IA childoforient00vakarich).pdf/42

 CHAPTER V

WE AND THEY

It was a patriarchal home, this first harem into which I entered. It consisted of the old hanoum, who was the first wife, and head of the women's part of the household, six other wives, whom she called her sisters, several married daughters, the wives of some of the sons, and two married grand-daughters. Among them they were the mothers of numerous babies—indeed, there were babies all over the house; and since each lady had several slaves there must have been at least a hundred women and children.

Djimlah happened to be the only child of her age. They were all sorry for her, and said so constantly while doing their best to amuse her.

There was little furniture in the house, just rugs and hard sofas, and small tables upon which were always sorbets or sweets, and cushions of all colours piled up on the rugs, where babies or grown-ups were always lying slumbering. Various small musical instruments were also among the cushions, and at any time some person would pick one of these up to play and sing, so that