Part 13 (2/2)
in Algiers, forgive us if we interject here the observation that there is earnest need for your activities at the present day!
Followed by the faithful though uncontrollable Zubby, with a huge triangular gra.s.s basket, Mrs Langley entered the tortuous streets of the city, and proceeded to ”shop.”
Fear not, reader! It is not our purpose to drag you through the details of the too well-known process. We pa.s.s onward to matters more important.
Having traversed several streets in which Moors sat cross-legged, embroidering purses and slippers with gold, in holes in the wall so small that a good-sized bust might have objected to occupy them; where cobblers, in similar niches, made and repaired round-toed shoes of morocco leather, and the makers of horn rings for fingers, wrists, arms and ankles wrought as deftly with their toes as with their fingers; where working silversmiths plied their trade in precious metals and gems in a free-and-easy open-air fas.h.i.+on that would have made the mouth of a London thief water; and where idle Arabs sipped coffee and smoked the live-long day, as though coffee and tobacco were the aim and end of life--which latter they proved indeed to many of them,--Mrs Langley with Agnes, followed by Zubby, paused before a niche in which were displayed for sale a variety of curious old trinkets of a nondescript and utterly useless character. In short, it appeared to be an Algerine curiosity-shop. Here, while bargaining with the owner for some small articles, she was surprised to hear a voice at her ear say in French--
”Madame, good morning; I have great pleasure in this unexpected meeting.”
She turned hastily, and found the Danish consul standing by her side.
”Ah, monsieur,” she said, returning his salutation, ”it is indeed seldom that I wander alone through this labyrinth, but necessity compels me.
An English friend wishes me to send her a few characteristic articles, and I can trust no one to choose them for me. But, you look anxious.”
”Yes, excuse me,” replied the Danish consul in haste, glancing round.
”I am followed, persecuted I may say. I had intended to call for your husband to-day to beg him to use his influence with the Dey in my behalf, but I cannot--circ.u.mstances--in short, will you kindly mention to him that I am in trouble because of the non-payment of the tribute due by our Government, and--”
Breaking off suddenly, the Danish consul bowed low and hurried away.
Mrs Langley observed that, immediately after, a chaouse, or executioner of the palace, pa.s.sed her.
This incident induced her to conclude her shopping rather quickly, and furnished her with food for thought which entirely engrossed her mind until Agnes exclaimed--
”Oh mamma, look! look! they're going to shave a little boy!”
Mrs Langley, directed by Agnes's finger, looked and found that this was indeed true. A little boy, between eight and nine years of age, was seated in a barber's shop near them, with a towel about his neck, glancing timidly, yet confidently, in the face of an elderly man who advanced towards him with an open razor, as though about to cut his throat. As it turned out, however, neither throat nor chin were in danger of violation. It was the head that the barber attacked, and this he sc.r.a.ped quite bare, without the aid of soap, leaving only a tuft of hair on the top. This tuft, we have been informed, is meant as a handle by means of which the owner may, after death, be dragged up into heaven!
but we rather incline to the belief that it is left for the purpose of keeping the red fez or skull-cap on the head.
Be this as it may, no sooner did the urchin behold Mrs Langley, than, casting aside the towel and ignoring the barber, he rushed out and exclaimed--in a compound of French, Arabic, and Lingua Franca, of which we give a free translation--
”Oh, missus, me ma.s.sr, console Dansh, vants see ver moch your hosbund!”
”Thank you; I know it,” replied Mrs Langley, giving the boy a small coin and a bright smile.
Quite satisfied that he had fulfilled his duty, the urchin returned to the barber and the lady proceeded to the palace.
Here she was received ceremoniously by the father of Ashweesha, Sidi Cadua, a mild, gentle-spirited, little old Turk, who would have made a very fine old English gentleman, but who was about as well fitted to be father-in-law to an Algerine Dey, and a man of position in the pirate city, as he was to be Prime Minister to the man in the moon.
Sidi Cadua conducted her to the seraglio, where she was heartily welcomed by the ladies, who expressed their delight at meeting her with girlish glee. Ashweesha laughingly said that she was glad to see Agnes had become a Mohammedan, on which Mrs Langley related what circ.u.mstances had caused the change, and the Sultana listened to the recital with tears of laughter running down her cheeks.
The English lady had naturally expected something gorgeous in the palace, but she was not prepared for the lavish display of wealth that met her eyes everywhere.
She found the Sultana and her six beautiful children in a room which, though not imposing in size, glittered with decoration. The ceiling and walls were rich with tessellated and arabesque work. The floor was covered with a carpet of cut velvet, with a pattern of the richest and most brightly-coloured flowers; and this carpet was strewn with costly jewels, which shone in the variegated light of the stained-gla.s.s windows above like glowing fire-flies. Around the walls were several recesses or niches, arched in the Moorish horse-shoe style. In one of these was a gla.s.s cabinet, on the shelves of which were some splendid articles of jewellery. In another recess hung a variety of swords and pistols, chiefly of Eastern manufacture, their handles and scabbards blazing with diamonds. Opposite to these stood a gilt four-post European bedstead, with four mattresses of gold brocade, and curtains of blue tiffany embroidered with gold sprigs. In fact, the apartment and its occupants were adorned with so much magnificence that the genie of Aladdin's famous lamp would not have improved it, for, although that remarkable personage might have brought unlimited treasure to its decoration, he would not have found a spare inch anywhere on which to bestow it!
The Sultana and her children were alone, with the exception of half-a-dozen beautiful Georgian slaves, and one or two negresses, who attended on them. Of course no gentlemen were present!
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