Memoirs of an Arabian Princess from Zanzibar
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This 19th-century autobiography offers a rare inside look at the society surrounding a sultan's palace. A real-life princess in exile recalls her vanished world of harems, slave trading, and court intrigues.
Authenticity of these Memoirs ixPreface xiiiChapter I Family HistoryThe Palace of Bet il MtoniThe Bath-housesEquestrian and Other Amusements-Princess Salamah's FatherPurchase of her MotherSeyyid Saïd's Principal and Secondary WivesHis ChildrenThe BenjileA Question of DisciplineBrother Majid Reaches his MajorityThe Authoress's First Change of Residence 3Chapter II Bet il WatoroMahometan Belief in ForeordinationParting GiftsA Little Journey by State CutterBet il WatoroArabian House Furniture and DecorationHomesicknessMajid's Fighting-cocksAmazonian AccomplishmentsOral Messages and WrittenChaduji the Haughty 20Chapter III Bet il SahelA Cross-grained DoorkeeperFascinations of CholeThe Veranda at Bet il SahelLife in the CourtyardAn Outdoor Butchery, Kitchen, and LarderLove of Arabs for their HorsesSocial Distinctions at TableWhy Bet il Sahel was Preferable to Bet il MtoniRace Hatred between Circassians and AbyssiniansCurshitEnforced Tuition 35Chapter IV Further Reminiscences of ChildhoodJuvenile TricksPrincess Salamah Climbs a Palm TreeMajid's SeizureA Family Quarrel which Ends in Divorce and Another Change of Abode for the AuthoressExtravagance of a Persian SultanaMore DivorceLessons in Caligraphy 48Chapter V National SingularitiesThe Vaunted Activity of Northern PeoplesInfant DressA Climate Favouring EasePrayer Five Times a DayIntervening PursuitsChewing BetelGoing to BedMenu à la ZanzibarReal Coffee 59Chapter VI Ceremonies for Newly BornBirthTight BandagingShaving of the HeadProtection Against the EvilEyeThe Sitting CeremonyBlack Nurses and EuropeanHardiness of Oriental Children. 73Chapter VII SchoolAn Outdoor ClassroomPrimitive Apparatus for StudyPlay before WorkThe Course of InstructionVerbal Term ReportsBribing the SchoolmarmDefects of European EducationCivilisation and Religion 83Chapter VIII Female FashionsYearly Distribution of Clothing MaterialsSimple Wants of Arabian WomenThe ShaleThe Rainy Season 93Chapter IX The Sultan's Voyage to OmanPersian Hostility in AsiaProvisioning the ShipsRelatives in OmanDifficulties of Corresponding with ThemThe DepartureKhaled Represents Seyyid SaïdChole as Lady SuperintendentThe Sultan's Strangely Prolonged AbsenceResort to Professional SeersSoothsaying by Ventriloquism 101Chapter X Death of Seyyid SaïdPreparations for the Sultan's ReturnMajid Sets Out to Meet HimThe Palace Surrounded by Order of BargashWho Wants to Usurp the ThroneArrival of the Sultan's Dead BodyMajid's ReturnCourt MourningMajid's Irregular SuccessionSeverance of Zanzibar from OmanDivision of Seyyid Saïd's Property 112Chapter XI The Position of Woman in the EastUnhappy Western MatchesSeclusion from the Male SexPolygamy and MonogamyConsideration Toward WivesRedress Against HusbandsDomestic Prerogatives of the WomenTheir CheerfulnessImpenetrability of the HaremDivorce EasyExamples Disproving the "Inferiority" of Oriental Women. 125Chapter XII Arabian Suitorship and MarriageFirst AcquaintanceGenerally by HearsayGirls Free to Reject SuitorsFormalities to be Observed by the BrideWedding Rites 139Chapter XIII Social CustomsCalls Made in the EveningWith Escort of Armed SlavesForm of Reception by the HostessEtiquette Concerning SlippersConversationRigid Exclusion of Men from Assemblies of WomenSaying Good-byeRoyal AudiencesOrder of Proceedings ThereatObligation to Attend ThemVisits Between Men 147Chapter XIV Mahometan FestivalsThe Month of RamadanDaily FastingNocturnal Fasting and HospitalityPresentation of Holiday GiftsWatching for the New MoonGeneral RejoicingsThe BanyansHenna, and the Way to Use ItPublic PrayersThe "Great Feast"Pilgrimages to MeccaA Tenth to the PoorHow Pauperism is Consequently a Necessary Institution 158Chapter XV Medical TreatmentCuppingKneadingSwallowing Sentences from the KoranConsultation of Foreign PhysiciansMaltreatment by Domestic RemediesSuperstitious PracticesPossession by Spirits, Good and EvilExorcism and PropitiationFemale Doctors Needed in Zanzibar 175Chapter XVI SlaveryA Ruinous Release of SlavesIdleness of the NegroA Defence of FloggingSlaves and Concubines Kept by Europeans in the EastTo Abolish a TimeHonoured Custom, Go SlowMoslem "Fanaticism" 184Chapter XVII History of a Dynastic PlotThe Authoress Loses her MotherFamily DissensionsPrincess Salamah's Equivocal PositionShe Casts in her Lot with BargashWho Aspires to the Crown and Forms a Conspiracy to Dethrone MajidBargash's House SurroundedHis Abduction in Woman's GarbDefeat of his PartisansHis ReturnAnd Rejection of Majid's Peaceful OverturesThe Pretender's House Fired On by British MarinesSubmission and Banishment of Bargash 193Chapter XVIII Term of Rural ResidenceComplicated Relations with an Invisible StewardLife on the Plantation of KisimbaniAnd of BububuSale of BububuIn Town AgainReconciliation with MajidQuarrel with CholeOriental Hatred of DissemblanceGreat Fidelity in Friendship 211Chapter XIX Elopement from ZanzibarAcquaintance with Herr RueteThe EscapeMarriage at AdenBrief. Happiness in HamburgSubsequent German Days 221Chapter XX English DiplomacyJourney to LondonInterview with Sir Bartle FrereThe Choice OfferedAvoidance of Meeting BargashReturn to GermanyDisappointmentDuplicity of the British GovernmentIts Motive 226Chapter XXI Visit to the Old HomeEmbarkationAlexandriaEgyptian Dislike of the EnglishTravel in the Suez CanalThe Red Hot SeaArrivalWelcome by the PopulaceCausing Displeasure to Seyyid BargashHis Official Factotum an Ex-LampcleanerDilapidation and DecayBargash's Frightful CrueltyThe Authoress's Claims UnsettledBritish Influence Over the SultanConclusion 237
