TRAVELS IN BARBARY. 
cheeks, painted a deep red, small black eyes, and 
a countenance entirely devoid of expression. Her 
complaint was a cold, brought on solely by the 
vehement desire of seeing an European physi- 
cian. When the prescriptions were over, she im- 
mediately proceeded to examine minutely his 
dress, and make particular inquiries as to his per- 
son and country. Tea was then served, and he 
departed, but was immediately called in to Lalla 
Douyaw, at present the favourite wife. This lady 
was a native Genoese, and being shipwrecked on 
the coast of Barbary at the age of eight, was intro- 
duced into the emperor's harem, and compelled 
to change her religion. Her beauty and accom- 
plishments soon raised her to the rank she then 
held. As she could write and read, she was 
viewed by all the rest as a sort of superior being. 
She retained so much of her European recollec- 
tions as to observe, that '* she was among a very 
uncouth and ignorant people." 
The number of females composing the harem 
were from fifty to a hundred, besides domestics 
and slaves. They lived in about twelve squares, 
each consisting of four rooms, surrounding an in- 
terior court. The two principal wives had each 
an entire square, the rest only a single apartment. 
The rooms were ornamented with beautifully carv- 
ed wood, the walls hung with rich damask, and 
the floors covered with beautiful carpets. The 
