legs which were entirely guiltless of calf. That sitting would have been
a good subject for a picture--I drawing, the ladies of the harem hanging
over me watching me work, and the negro standing and swearing as he
stood, while Ayescha went to and fro lavishing the quaintest caresses on
him, to keep him in good temper.

One evening, General Vallee had an entertainment got up for him in the
harem. There were great illuminations, singing, music with tambourine
accompaniment and the danse du ventre. Amongst those present was General
de Caraman, who commanded the artillery. He was seized with cholera just
as he was going away, and was dead by six o'clock the next morning. Such
is life! Several adventures arose out of the fact of the harem's
presence. One fine night, when everybody was asleep, two of the officers
of infantry irregulars on guard took it into their heads to knock at the
door, and were filled with delighted surprise on hearing the gentle
voice of the good-natured cantiniere reply, "Is that you? Well upon my
word," and the door opened. But within less than two minutes the
frightful uproar caused by two hundred women shrieking at once roused
the whole of head-quarters, and our two officers tore full pace back to
the guardroom and got the men under arms. This scare, and it may be some
others too, added to the pestiferous smell from the negresses' quarters,
made the authorities resolve to get rid of all this human cattle and
distribute it amongst the most well-to-do of the Mussulman population. I
went to look on at their departure, which was presided over by a major
on the staff, assisted by a detachment of irregulars. The women had been
warned the evening before, and leave had been given for each to take
away as much as she herself could carry. So they had spent the whole
night rolling as many precious stuffs round their waists as they could
support the weight of, and we found ourselves face to face with human
balloons, like monstrous gourds. They could hardly walk, even when held