PLA T E XXIX.
A F EM A L E D A N C E R
. AT CONSTANTINOPLE.
A l t h o u g h both music and dancing are forbidden by-the Mussul*
man rdlgion, these amusements are tolerated by the government.
The female dancers, who are generally 'either: young slaves, or the
’Saves o f Mahometan musicians; hardlyever appear in public places.
They* go to ;th e housess b f inffiivsehrals, Where they dance, in the
same way as the men?-either' atone, «£ in jtakto-', Xfcgf,-tt»' w r y
loosely dressed; and their heads are always h a lf covered w ith a veil.
W ith castanets«! their h an d s ta n d their eyes alternately languish-
in g a n d piercing, they p u t themselves in to the most free and volup-
tuous attitudes.
There always are also ’in th e houses o f the great, as well as i i i
th e seraglio, a certaiSmumbenof young slaves, w ho are practised in
dancing to amuse their mistresses as well as their masters. In these
different amusements, however; there is nothing Scfey or tumultuous.
They are indeed restrained by th e regulations o f the pohct,
which is v e ^ d ritt'iS tMs respect; and no person is allowed to have
an entertainment w ith dancing and music, without permission of
the magistrates.