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 CHAPTER VIII

YILDERIM

As I look back on those years of close intimacy with Turkish children, and our various discussions and squabbles, I cannot but feel thankful for opportunities denied most children. And I can see now that a great deal of the hatred which separates the different creeds and nationalities is inculcated in our hearts before we are capable of judging, by those who do their best to teach us brotherly love.

During the first year of our friendship, Djimlah and I played mostly alone. It is true that whenever other harems came to visit Djimlah's, and brought along girls of our age, we had to accept their presence—either with alacrity or reluctance, depending on what we had afoot. There were days when Djimlah and I were about to enact some chapter of "The Arabian Nights," and then we little cared to be disturbed by outsiders; but oriental politeness forced Djimlah to play the hostess.

I rarely invited her to my house. First, because my mother positively objected to Turks;