MY QUEST OF THE ARAB HORSE 



they are princesses, daughters of the Sultan, 

 and that the others are women of the Harem. 

 Back of this carriage walk six ill-shaped, 

 gaunt, long-legged black beings; they look 

 more like educated apes than species of men. 

 Their hands are awkward, and their feet are 

 long and vulgarly flat. All they do is to 

 smile and follow the carriage, like coach dogs. 

 Their long black frock coats even have a dis- 

 agreeable swing; they are Eunuchs, and when 

 they speak it is in a high tenor voice, not at all 

 musical. 



It is getting close to the hour of the cere- 

 mony and some foreign officer in the Palace 

 complains that the Sultan is late. A double 

 line of distinguished men, nearly covered with 

 braid and medals, and swords, marches down 

 and forms a circle around where the Imperial 

 carriage will be drawn up. These men are the 

 guards of the household. Then three stately 

 men, old men, march silently by. They are 

 field marshals. Two small children appear on 

 the marble steps where the Sultan will soon 

 appear. They are the Sultan's children, boys 

 aged about twelve and eight. Their uniforms 

 are very heavy, but they bear themselves easily 

 and naturally. Generals bow to them and 



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