The aerial voyageurs took a general view of the Ganges and its deltas. They paused to observe a Hindoo maiden, of the better caste, launch upon its waters, in her amative superstition, one of those small lights, votive to love and imagination, which floating down the stream would by its course, accidents and fate, indicate what might be the chequered destiny of her affections, or the fortunes of an absent lover. And they noticed her as a specimen of the delicate symmetry of form and sentient beauty of face, characteristic of southern Asiatic females. The dreamy expression of soul on her countenance enthralled the American. For a time he was human.
Geographical details but seldom attracted their attention. Their general consciousness was that of travelling at night; yet there was ever light enough when and where it was desired. The American conceived the mortal wish to view a scene from the highest mountains in the world. They were near the Himmalayas, and flew to their most commanding peak. It appeared to be a bright day, and all the sensations of sublime awe and admiration which a man could feel under such circumstances were realized. This experience was entirely distinct from any impressions produced during their usual aerial observations. The landscape seemed to comprise every variety of object, from the grandest and most startling, to the softest and most serene, and a delicious mellowing sublimated the enchantment.
Now, anon, they are looking down upon the Euphrates and the Tigris, and the classic slip of land between them. And in another moment a twilight envelopes them, a contemplative mood ensues; and, then, steals upon their consciousness the knowledge, inducing a singular awe or uneasiness, that they are hovering over the Plain of Shinar. The biblical Babel, the confusion of tongues and the scattering of the nations crowd upon their reflection, and again immortal thoughts arise.
The disembodied remarks, “It is written that a drama occurred below, which, it appears to me, is as mysterious in its meaning as it is wonderful in its happening. The Divine frustration of the building of the Tower of Babel, as a rebuke to the presumption of man, in the light of an allegory, finds analogies in every-day life. But, as a fact, it is classed among the miraculous. Which is it? The unity or variety of origin of the human race is a vexed question; and man’s distinctiveness from other animals, especially in the characteristics of reason and immortality, may be regarded another. It has occurred to me that attributing the ‘confusion of tongues’ to the miraculous, may have been but an ancient priestly, as well as theoretic, pretext in favor of the doctrine of the unity of the human race. The Babel statement is a strange story of God’s ways.”
Immortal.—“Even to immortals, God’s designs are not revealed, and in many respects His ways are inscrutable. The past may declare His nature, but never wholly His purposes. The Future is His own. But as His laws are unchangeable, inferences may be drawn by any being in proportion to his faculties and knowledge. Their gradations are as numerous as the stars. Nor is it permitted to me to declare to you in your mortal status, all I know in my immortal status. But the unity or variety of human origin is of no present importance. The differences of the human races, in language, color and structure, give assurance against their amalgamation and homogeneity on earth.”
The dream assumes a new phase. In a grand hall, of shadowy sides, suspended in mid-air, the parties recline in voluptuous chairs.
It is as if fitted for exhibitions. A moving superb panorama passes before them, representing in their greatest glory, the following cities: Babylon, Nineveh, Thebes, Troy, Tyre, Jerusalem, Bagdad, Alexandria and Damascus. They alike saw them and seemed to be in them. It was a curious, instructive and wondrous display. A reverse movement of the picture then presented these cities or their sites as they are now. Their inhabitants at the different periods, in varied masses and actions, and male and female in every style and hue of Eastern costume and countenance, created a strange and absorbing interest. The kaleidoscopic phases of human nature will ever challenge curiosity, excite observation and engender thoughts. The desire “to see and be seen” by our kind, has a more suggestive and philosophical source than mere vanity.
The winged adventurers of a night recross from Asia to Europe, traverse the famed Bosphorus, and reaching Constantinople, alight for a moment, each on a minaret of the mosque, (formerly church of St. Sophia,) the grandest temple to Mahomet and of the Turks. The view was grand, novel and crowded with objects and memorials. It was the most noted point on the line between the East and the West, and there were the remembrances and insignia of both. These philosophic observers had carefully noticed, of late, the influences and traces of men and events, systems and creeds, times and powers, from Alexander the Great, in his primary institution of commerce and in its mighty effects, down to the condition produced by the late struggle by Turkey, France and England on one side, against the aggressions of Russia and Northern hordes on the other.
With their usual facility they next visit the palace of the Sultan. Their presence surprised, but its character was deferred to and welcomed. Turkish hospitality and courtesy are genial, when once enlisted. The Grand Vizier himself directed their entertainment near the person of his Majesty of the Crescent. In a stoical manner, but with liberal temper, they discussed with the guests matters of religion, government, social customs, moral subtleties and modern developments and tendencies. The preconceived ideas and prejudices of the American were greatly modified. The former Turk and Mohammedan of haughty bigotry, fierceness and the sword, had subsided into tolerance for the Christian, amity with the European, and deference to the civilization, learning and powers of the Caucasian race. Once the chief guardian and lookout on the ramparts of the ignorance, despotism and superstitions of the East, he now would open its portals to the more active spirit and mightier enlightenment of the West. All this was elicited and defined in the harmonious discussions that interluded the ceremonial observances.
The suite of apartments allotted to females in the larger dwelling-houses of the East (called the Harem) is a portion sacred to them and the head of the family, and forbidden to other masculine intrusion. But, for the winged spirits, there was no objection to their admittance to even the imperial Seraglio. Upon the invitation of the Sultan, who led the way, they retired with him into the delicious abode of the Sultanas and lady favorites of that mysterious Court. Here for the first time gallantry so inspired the American that he bowed, kneeled—yes, salaam-ed! This choice collection of beautiful women, selected from beauties of different climes, and from races of the higher types, presented every species of female loveliness in form, feature and complexion. The Circassian prevailed in numbers and attractions.