Memoirs of an Arabian Princess from Zanzibar

by Ruete, Emily

• ISBN13: 9780486471211
• ISBN10: 0486471217
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2009-05-21
• Publisher: Dover Publications

Summary

This autobiography offers a rare inside look at the society surrounding a sultan's palace. Its author, a real-life princess in exile, recalls her vanished world of harems, slave trading, and court intrigues. TheMidwest Book Reviewpraised this book as "an engrossing memoir, offering a vivid portrait of 19th-century Arab and African life."

Author Biography

"Ruete could be the subject of a thrilling romance," enthused Publishers Weekly of this author, who was born in 1840 as Salme, Princess of Oman and Zanzibar. As a 16-year-old, Ruete fled from her cloistered existence to Germany, where she found the freedom to marry her secret lover. Ruete wrote this colorful and informative memoir to introduce her children to their African heritage.

Table of Contents

Authenticity of these Memoirs	p. ix
Preface	p. xiii
Family History
The Palace of Bet il Mtoni
The Bath-houses
Equestrian and Other Amusements-Princess Salamah's Father
Purchase of her Mother
Seyyid Saïd's Principal and Secondary Wives
His Children
The Benjile
A Question of Discipline
Brother Majid Reaches his Majority
The Authoress's First Change of Residence	p. 3
Bet il Watoro
Mahometan Belief in Foreordination
Parting Gifts
A Little Journey by State Cutter
Bet il Watoro
Arabian House Furniture and Decoration
Homesickness
Majid's Fighting-cocks
Amazonian Accomplishments
Oral Messages and Written
Chaduji the Haughty	p. 20
Bet il Sahel
A Cross-grained Doorkeeper
Fascinations of Chole
The Veranda at Bet il Sahel
Life in the Courtyard
An Outdoor Butchery, Kitchen, and Larder
Love of Arabs for their Horses
Social Distinctions at Table
Why Bet il Sahel was Preferable to Bet il Mtoni
Race Hatred between Circassians and Abyssinians
Curshit
Enforced Tuition	p. 35
Further Reminiscences of Childhood
Juvenile Tricks
Princess Salamah Climbs a Palm Tree
Majid's Seizure
A Family Quarrel which Ends in Divorce and Another Change of Abode for the Authoress
Extravagance of a Persian Sultana
More Divorce
Lessons in Caligraphy	p. 48
National Singularities
The Vaunted Activity of Northern Peoples
Infant Dress
A Climate Favouring Ease
Prayer Five Times a Day
Intervening Pursuits
Chewing Betel
Going to Bed
Menu à la Zanzibar
Real Coffee	p. 59
Ceremonies for Newly Born
Birth
Tight Bandaging
Shaving of the Head
Protection Against the Evil Eye
The Sitting Ceremony
Black Nurses and European
Hardiness of Oriental Children.	p. 73
School
An Outdoor Classroom
Primitive Apparatus for Study
Play before Work
The Course of Instruction
Verbal Term Reports
Bribing the Schoolmarm
Defects of European Education
Civilisation and Religion	p. 83
Female Fashions
Yearly Distribution of Clothing Materials
Simple Wants of Arabian Women
The Shale
The Rainy Season	p. 93
The Sultan's Voyage to Oman
Persian Hostility in Asia
Provisioning the Ships
Relatives in Oman
Difficulties of Corresponding with Them
The Departure
Khaled Represents Seyyid Saïd
Chole as Lady Superintendent
The Sultan's Strangely Prolonged Absence
Resort to Professional Seers
Soothsaying by Ventriloquism	p. 101
Death of Seyyid Saïd
Preparations for the Sultan's Return
Majid Sets Out to Meet Him
The Palace Surrounded by Order of Bargash
Who Wants to Usurp the Throne
Arrival of the Sultan's Dead Body
Majid's Return
Court Mourning
Majid's Irregular Succession
Severance of Zanzibar from Oman
Division of Seyyid Saïd's Property	p. 112
The Position of Woman in the East
Unhappy Western Matches
Seclusion from the Male Sex
Polygamy and Monogamy
Consideration Toward Wives
Redress Against Husbands
Domestic Prerogatives of the Women
Their Cheerfulness
Impenetrability of the Harem
Divorce Easy
Examples Disproving the "Inferiority" of Oriental Women.	p. 125
Arabian Suitorship and Marriage
First Acquaintance
Generally by Hearsay
Girls Free to Reject Suitors
Formalities to be Observed by the Bride
Wedding Rites	p. 139
Social Customs
Calls Made in the Evening
With Escort of Armed Slaves
Form of Reception by the Hostess
Etiquette Concerning Slippers
Conversation
Rigid Exclusion of Men from Assemblies of Women
Saying Good-bye
Royal Audiences
Order of Proceedings Thereat
Obligation to Attend Them
Visits Between Men	p. 147
Mahometan Festivals
The Month of Ramadan
Daily Fasting
Nocturnal Fasting and Hospitality
Presentation of Holiday Gifts
Watching for the New Moon
General Rejoicings
The Banyans
Henna, and the Way to Use It
Public Prayers
The "Great Feast"
Pilgrimages to Mecca
A Tenth to the Poor
How Pauperism is Consequently a Necessary Institution	p. 158
Medical Treatment
Cupping
Kneading
Swallowing Sentences from the Koran
Consultation of Foreign Physicians
Maltreatment by Domestic Remedies
Superstitious Practices
Possession by Spirits, Good and Evil
Exorcism and Propitiation
Female Doctors Needed in Zanzibar	p. 175
Slavery
A Ruinous Release of Slaves
Idleness of the Negro
A Defence of Flogging
Slaves and Concubines Kept by Europeans in the East
To Abolish a Time
Honoured Custom, Go Slow
Moslem "Fanaticism"	p. 184
History of a Dynastic Plot
The Authoress Loses her Mother
Family Dissensions
Princess Salamah's Equivocal Position
She Casts in her Lot with Bargash
Who Aspires to the Crown and Forms a Conspiracy to Dethrone Majid
Bargash's House Surrounded
His Abduction in Woman's Garb
Defeat of his Partisans
His Return
And Rejection of Majid's Peaceful Overtures
The Pretender's House Fired On by British Marines
Submission and Banishment of Bargash	p. 193
Term of Rural Residence
Complicated Relations with an Invisible Steward
Life on the Plantation of Kisimbani
And of Bububu
Sale of Bububu
In Town Again
Reconciliation with Majid
Quarrel with Chole
Oriental Hatred of Dissemblance
Great Fidelity in Friendship	p. 211
Elopement from Zanzibar
Acquaintance with Herr Ruete
The Escape
Marriage at Aden
Brief. Happiness in Hamburg
Subsequent German Days	p. 221
English Diplomacy
Journey to London
Interview with Sir Bartle Frere
The Choice Offered
Avoidance of Meeting Bargash
Return to Germany
Disappointment
Duplicity of the British Government
Its Motive	p. 226
Visit to the Old Home
Embarkation
Alexandria
Egyptian Dislike of the English
Travel in the Suez Canal
The Red Hot Sea
Arrival
Welcome by the Populace
Causing Displeasure to Seyyid Bargash
His Official Factotum an Ex-Lampcleaner
Dilapidation and Decay
Bargash's Frightful Cruelty
The Authoress's Claims Unsettled
British Influence Over the Sultan
Conclusion	p. 237
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