AN EXTENSIVE HAREM.

Waikato Times, Volume xxvi, Issue 2458, 8 May 1886, Page 2 (Supplement)

AN EXTENSIVE HAREM.

Tiik late Emir of Bokhara must have been a man of large heart and inexhauitible affection. He believed in love and matrimony, so long as a man didn't have too many wives ; and in his opinion a nun couldn't possibly have too many. So he himself had 280, with the same number of female slaves, who understood the roles of their respective mistresses. Other female attendants included ten barbers, nine cooks, four midwives, twenty-two needlewomen, and fifty washerwomen. The midwives held sinecure offices, for Providence mercifully denied this muchmarried Emir more than twenty-six children— seven boys aud nineteen girls. Among his male attendants were four astrologers, six private physicians, seven chaplains (Imams), and forty-four eunuchs. That is the sort of man the late Emir was. The new one is less comprehensive in his affections and more economical. He has overhauled hU father's mighty domestic establishment, and has gone in for drastic reform in the palace expenditure. The 230 wives have received an intimation that their services are no longer required, and have each been giren a free dwelling and a pension of two rupees a day— which in Bokhara is looked upon as a handsome maintenance. The new Emir is not much of a marrying man, not having more than 100 or 150 wives. Such moderation is commendable.