them she hunted and rode in the broad day--rather contrary to Arab
notions. The Persian women are subjected to quite a Spartan training
in bodily exercise; they enjoy great liberty, much more so than Arab
women, but they are also more rude in mind and action.

Schesade is said to have carried on her extravagant style of life
beyond bounds; her dresses, cut always after the Persian fashion, were
literally covered with embroideries of pearls. A great many of these
were picked up nearly every morning by the servants in her rooms,
where she had dropped them from her garments, but the Princess would
never take any of these precious jewels back again. She did not only
drain my father's exchequer most wantonly, but violated many of our
sacred laws; in fact, she had only married him for his high station
and wealth, and had loved some one else all the time. Such a state of
things could, of course, only end in a divorce; fortunately Schesade
had no children of her own. There is a rumour still current among us
that beautiful Schesade was observed, some years after this event,
when my father carried on war in Persia, and had the good fortune of
taking the fortress of Bender Abbas on the Persian Gulf, heading her
troops, and taking aim at the members of our family herself.

Another of the remarkable women mentioned by the Princess was her
stepmother, Azze-bint-Zef, who seems to have completely ruled the Sultan,
and to have settled all questions of home and foreign policy; while her
great-aunt, the Princess Asche, was regent of the empire during the
Sultan's minority, and was the heroine of the siege of Mesket. Of her
the Princess gives the following account:

Dressed in man's clothes, she inspected the outposts herself at night,
she watched and encouraged the soldiers in all exposed places, and was
saved several times only by the speed of her horse in unforeseen
attacks. One night she rode out, oppressed with care, having just
received information that the enemy was about to attempt an entrance
into the city by means of bribery that night, and with intent to
massacre all; and now she went to convince herself of the loyalty of
her troops. Very cautiously she rode up to a guard, requesting to
speak to the 'Akid' (the officer in charge), and did all in her power
to seduce him from his duty by great offers of reward on the part of
the be