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Updated: May 25, 2025
The bearer of the flag dismounted, and at a sign planted it in the ground. Seeing his Shaykh, the Prince called him: "Who is the warrior yonder? He in the golden armor?" "He the Emir El Hajj! And so young? Oh! a hero of the Serail. The Kislar Aga extolled him one day." "Thy remark and common report, O excellent Prince, could not journey together on the same camel," said the Shaykh.
The Kislar Aga, or Chief Eunuch, a tall African in resplendent costume, is one of the most important personages connected with the Court. The Sultan's favorite dwarf, a little man about forty years old and three feet high, bestrode his horse with as consequential an air as any of them. A few years ago, this man took a notion to marry, and applied to the Sultan for a wife.
The kislar aga opened his eyes with astonishment at my presumption; but not venturing to use force to one who, in his opinion, would become the favourite, he returned to the sultan, reporting to him what had passed. The sultan, as I expected, was more amused at the novelty than affronted at the want of respect. "Be it so," replied he, "this Georgian must have a good opinion of her own charms."
The kislar aga came to see me, and was astonished; he saw at once that I should immediately become first favourite; and having heard me sing and play, he demanded my price, which was enormous. He reported me to the sultan, stating that he had never beheld such perfection, and at the same time informing him of the exorbitant demand of the slave-merchant.
In the meantime, Osman Ali having heard from the women the message I had sent, was very wroth, and came to the slave-merchant to procure me again; but the slave-merchant informed him that the Kislar Aga of the sultan had seen me, and ordered me to be reserved for the imperial seraglio; by this falsehood screening himself, not only from Ali's importunities, but also from his vengeance.
The Prince of India recognized him as one of the indispensables of an Eastern harem, and made ready to obey him without dissent only the extravagance of the broidery on the burnoose confirmed him in the opinion that the chief just arrived outranked the Governor. "This is the Kislar Aga of a Prince," he said to himself.
We moved our camp from "A" Beach farther along towards the Salt Lake. We moved several times. Always Hawk and I "hung together." Once he was very ill in the old dried-up water-course which wriggled down from the Kislar Dargh. He ate nothing for three days. I never saw anything like it before. He was as weak as a rat, and I know he came very near "pegging out." He felt it himself.
Was not I struck by two vile slaves, who will babble through the city? Was not I held down by an executioner? These arms, which have wound round the master of the world, and no other, polluted by his gripe." The sultan clapped his hands, and the Kislar Aga appeared. "Quick," exclaimed he, "the heads of the slaves and executioner who inflicted the punishment."
I had never mentioned to him that I was aware of it; but a circumstance occurred which annoyed me, and I forgot my discretion. The kislar aga had at last discovered a Circassian slave, who, he thought, would effect the purpose. She was beautiful, and I had already engrossed the sultan's attentions for more than two years. Men will be fickle, and I expected no otherwise.
I motioned with my hand, and the Kislar Aga withdrew. "Now, Zara, do you forgive me? Now do you believe that I sincerely love you, and have I obtained my pardon?" "Yes," replied I, "I do, sultan; I forgive you all; and now I will permit you to sit by me and bathe my feet." From that day I resumed my empire with more despotic power than ever.
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