*10| 
js more than an equivalent for those 
contrasts of Chiaroscuro that Gior- 
gione is said to have learnt from 
him. The legend which makes 
Leonardo go to Rome with Juliano 
di Medici at the election of Leo X. 
to accept employment in the Vati- 
can, whether sufficiently authentic 
er not, furnishes a characteristic 
trait of the mas, The pope passing 
. through -the room allotted for the 
pictures, and instead of designs and 
cartoons, finding nothing but an ap- 
paratus of distillery of oils and var- 
nishes, exclaimed, § Ah me! he 
means to do nothing; for he thinks 
of the end before he has made 
a beginning.’ From’ a sonnet of 
Leonardo, preserved by Lomazzo, 
he appears to_have been sensible of 
the inconstancy of his own temper, 
and full of wishes at least to correct 
it. 
Much has been said of the honour 
he received, by expiring in the arms 
of Francis I. It was indeed an ho- 
nour, by which destiny in some de- 
gree atoned to Francis for his disaster 
at Pavia. 
Account of the Harem, or Apart- 
ments for the Ladies; from Rus- 
sell’s Natural History of Alepo. 
\ HEN the ladies visit one 
another in a forenoon, they 
do not immediately unveil on com- 
ing into the harem, lest some of the 
men should happen to be still at 
home, and might see them as they 
pass ; but, as soon as they enter the 
apartment of the lady to whom the 
visit is intended, either one of the 
young ladies, or a slave, assists in 
taking off the veil, which, being 
carefully folded up, is laid aside. Lt 
is a sign that the visitant intends 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 
only a short stay, when instead of re- 
signing the veil, she only uncovers 
her head, permitting the veil to 
hang carelessly down on the shoul- 
ders. Tthis generally produces a 
friendly contest between the par- 
ties: one insisting upon taking the 
veil away, the other refusing to sur- 
render it. A like contest takes 
place at the close of the visit. When 
entreaty cannot prevail on the visite 
ant to stay longer, the veil is hidden, 
the slaves, instructed before hand, 
pretend to search for it every where 
in vain, and wheo she urges the 
absolute necessity of her gving, she 
is assured that the aga, or master of 
the house, is not-yet gone abroad, 
and is then jocusely dared to depart 
without it. 
In their manner of receiving one 
another, the ladies are less formal 
than the men; their complimental 
speeches, though in a high strain, 
are more rapidly and familiarly ex- 
pressed. 
The common salutation is per- 
formed by laying the right band on 
the left breast, and gently inclining 
the head. They sometimes salute by 
kissing the cheek; and the young 
ladies kiss the hands of their senior 
relations. They entertain with cof- 
fee and tobacco, but the sherbet and 
perfume are only produced on par- 
ticular occasions. 
The great men are attended in 
the harem, by the female slaves, in 
the same manner as, in the outer 
apartments, by the pages. They 
remain standing in the humble atti- 
tude of attendance, their hands 
crossed before them on their cincture, 
and their eyes fixed on the ground. 
The other ladies, as well as the 
daughters of the family, occasionally 
bring the pipe and coffee, but do 
not remain standing; they either 
are 
