#14] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 
cerning his country. They are 
particularly inquisitive about the 
Frank women, their dress, employ- 
ments, marriages, treatment uf chil- 
dren, and amusements. In return 
they are ingenuously communicative, 
and display talents, which, being 
little indebted to artificial cultiva- 
tion, appear, as it were, to expand 
naturally, undera clear sky, and the 
influence of a delicious climate. 
Their questions are generally perti- 
nent, and the remarks they occa- 
sionally make, on manners differing 
so widely from their own, are often 
sprightly and judicious. 
When the visit is at length con- 
cluded, notice being given to clear 
the way, the physician sets out, 
preceded as before by the slave. 
But it rarely happens that he is not 
more than once stopped, to give ad- 
vice to some of the domestics,* who 
wait his return ; for however slightly 
they may be indisposed, the temp- 
tation of telling their complaints to 
a doctor is irresistible. These dam- 
sels seldom have any other veil, than 
a handkerchief thrown over the 
head, one corner of which is held 
in the mouth ; but, in order to avoid 
even that trouble, they frequently 
place themselves behind a door, or 
a window shutter, half open, in 
which situation, thrusting out one 
arm, they insist on having the pulse 
examined. It sometimes happens, 
in the great harems, that another 
obstacle must be encountered be- 
fore regaining the gate. This arises 
from some of the younger ladies, 
or slaves, who are at work in the 
court, refusing peremptorily either 
to veil, or retire; which is done 
merely in sport, to vex the conduc- 
tress who is obliged of course to 
make a halt. In vain she bawls 
Dirb! and makes use by turns of 
entreaty, threat, and reproach ; till 
finding all in vain, she gives fair 
warning, and has recourse to a never 
failing stratagem. She marches on, 
and bids the doctor follow. A coms 
plete route ensues; the damsels 
scamper different ways, catch hold 
of what ever offers first by way of 
veil, or attempt to conceal themselves 
behind one another. Itis only when 
none of the men are in the harem, 
that this scene of romping can take 
place. When the physician is con- 
ducted by the aga himself, every 
thing passes in orderly silence, and, 
in the chamber of the sick, none be- 
sides the elderly or married rela= 
tions offer to join in the conversa- 
tion: but it is seldom that the aga 
‘himself takes the trouble, after the 
few first visits, except the doctor be 
a stranger to the family. 
Account of the Turkish Ladies ; from 
the same. 
HE women, in their persons 
are rather engaging than hand- 
some. It.was remarked before, 
that they were pretty in infancy, 
but changed for the worse as they 
grew up: yet they retain for ever 
the fine piercing eye, and many to 
the last possess their exquisite fea- 
tures, though not their complection. 
‘They do not wear stays, and are at 
little pains to preserve their shape. 
In general they are low in stature, 
and such as are tall, for the most 
part, stoop. The women of condi- 
tion affect a stately gait, but walk 
inelegantly, and the carriage of 
their body is devoid of that ease 
and air to which an European eye- 
has been accostomed. The dress in 
which they appear abroad is not 
calculated to set off the person ; ine 
vel 
