ctured for the occasion: having promised, if I would not peach, he
would serve my friends honestly, he probably did so; but I am certain he
made a good thing of the contraband.

[Sidenote: ORIENTAL BEAUTY.] _Tuesday, 11th._--I enjoyed the pleasure,
this morning, of being introduced to a very handsome Turkish lady, whom
Madame Giuseppino purposely invited to her house, in order to give me
an opportunity of witnessing a perfect specimen of Oriental beauty.
After a good deal of persuasion, she allowed me to copy her profile.

Her eyes and eyelashes were intensely black; though I suspect the latter
were stained of a dye deeper than the natural one. Her complexion was
beautifully fair, with the slightest tint of carnation suffused over the
cheek. Her lips! sweet lips! "that make us sigh even to have seen such."
Her glossy hair, which was bound with a kalemkeir or painted
handkerchief, representing a whole parterre of flowers, fell in loose
curls upon her shoulders, and down her back: she wore a short black
velvet jacket, embroidered with gold lace; trowsers of sky blue silk; an
under-jacket of pink crape, and one of those beautiful transparent
shirts which ravish the beholder, and "half reveal the charms they fain
would hide." A magnificent Persian shawl encircled her waist, which had
nature's own form, never having been compressed by the cruel bondage of
stays.

Her feet were in slippers, and two or three ugly rings deformed her
white and slender fingers, the nails of which were dyed with henna.
Around her neck she wore a double row of pearls, from which hung an
amulet. Her skin was very white and beautiful; the constant use of the
dry vapour bath having reduced it to a fineness, which I can only
compare to highly polished marble; and it looked as glossy and as cold.
She was well pleased with the drawing I made of her; and, on rising to
go away, she put on her yellow boots over the beautiful white foot and
ankle, which it was a sin to conceal: then donning her gashmak and
cloak, she bade us adieu, with a grace and elegance which few English
ladies could equal.

No wonder the Turks sigh for paradise, when they believe heaven to be
peopled with houris such as these! Egad! it requires the exertion of all
one's philosophy and self-denial to resist the temptation of turning
Turk too.

It was really delightful to watch the elegant manner in which this young
and lovely creature moved, and with how graceful, yet unstudied atti