A Visit with the Khedive’s Wives

Khedive was the title of the viceroy of Egypt under Turkish rule 1867–1914. — Public domain image of Ismāíl Pasha, Khedive in 1892
 

A Notable Visit

As a special privilege we were allowed to visit the three Princesses, wives of the Khedive. We had been admonished to wear our best clothes, and if possible to avoid black, as the Egyptians are very superstitious about visits from people wearing that hue. Fortunately, we could overcome that objection. We were also told to wear all our jewelry, which was not a very laborious thing to do. So we went, and a row of black eunuchs stood before the door of the palace. Two of them helped us to alight. Having crossed the threshold we found ourselves in a little world of women, where one man has only the right to come. 

Here cigarettes were brought us, which etiquette required us to accept. A whiff or two quite satisfied our entertainers. We were presently introduced into the presence of the three wives, of whom the third one, also much the youngest and prettiest, spoke French tolerably. After shaking hands with each in turn we were invited to take seats, and chibouks were brought us, whose length reached from our mouths to the carpet. I was obliged to take one puff of the tobacco, which caused me to cough with some violence. Then we had coffee brought in porcelain cups, the stand for each cup being richly set with diamonds. Then, with profound courtesy, we took our leave. 

In the great hall below, several attendants brought us beautiful bowls of porcelain set with diamonds filled with sour-sweet drink, which we were afterward told was sherbet. These women also carried napkins with golden fringes. Then our carriage was brought to the door. The eunuchs helped us to get into it, our “dais” or footman ran on before, and we drove away. – Placer Argus, 1879

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