French and Oriental Love in a Harem

In all beings the internal character is so closely allied to the

external form, that it appears to be only an equation of the latter.

Thus certain features of the face announce peculiarities of nature,

inclinations, and instincts even to the vulgar; the physiologist, with

his more special knowledge, discovers quite a series of concealed

revelations in the innermost recesses of that pretty sphinx which

constitutes God's masterpiece, and which we call woman. In the same way

grace is always the result of the harmony of lines; from the slightest

outline, from the position of a dimple, or the tension of a smile, from

a glance, or from the most transient gesture, one can always trace the

origin of a feeling, and lay bare the mind. Thus, at this moment, I

behold Hadidjé leave the water, and saunter quietly in the direction of

Nazli and Zouhra, who are reclining on cushions and smoking cigarettes.

By the air of indifference that she affects I could wager that she

contemplates playing them some trick!

And indeed, when close to the smokers, she suddenly shook her hair. The

two others jumped up under the spray of sparkling water, and ran after

her, beating her with their fans and fly-flaps.

Kondjé-Gul, the heedless beauty, who is rocking herself in her hammock

beside me, scarcely raises her lazy head to follow them with a glance,

at the sound of their cries and laughter. Since her name is at the end

of my pen, I will begin my series of portraits with her.

Kondjé-Gul is a Circassian by race. Her name in Turkish signifies a

variety of rose which we are not acquainted with in France; she was

brought when quite a child to Constantinople by her mother, attached to

the service of a cadine of the Sultan. She is now eighteen. Imagine the

Caucasian type in the flower of its beauty, tall, with the figure of a

young goddess, an expression of natural indolence which appears to

indicate a consciousness of her sovereign beauty, and a fine head

crowned with thick chestnut hair falling down to her waist. Her features

are clean cut, and of a remarkably pure type. Large brown eyes with

heavy eyelids, imparting a languishing expression; lips somewhat

sensual, which from her habit of carrying her head erect, she seems

always to be holding out for a kiss; a mixture of Greek beauty with a

strange sort of grace peculiar to this Tcherkessian race, which still

remains a trifle savage. All these characteristics make up an ensemble

both exotic and marvellous, which I could no more describe to you than I

could explain the scent of the lily. Of a loving and tender nature, she

exhibits the disposition of a child in whom ardent impulses are united

with a profound gentleness of sentiment. She is the jealous one of my

household--but, hush! the others know nothing of this.... Certainly she

is the most remarkable and the most perfect of my little animals.