And  is  not  any  amelioration  in  the  condition  of  these  lovely>
helpless  beings  a  subject  of  general  interest  ?  The  recent  in*
novations  of  his  majesty  the  Shah,  however,  are  aJone  connected
with  the  subject  of  this  chapter.
Badinage  apart,  it  is  a  well  known  fact  that  the  harem  of  the
Persian  are  permitted,  nay,  encouraged,  to  disport  themselves
with  archery.  These  oriental  bow  meetings  take  place  within
the  recesses  of  the  royal  gardens,  where,  their  black-bearded
tyrant  and  a  bevy  of  female  attendants  excepted,  no  spectators
are  allowed  to  be  present.  Thus  secluded,  however  assiduously
the  fair  toxophilites  may  pursue  this  novel  pastime,  still,  it  can
hardly  be  asserted  they  are  occupied  in  drawing  the  how  *,  at
least  in  that  equivocal  sense,  in  which  we  often  apply  the  ex*
pression  to  their  fair  sisters  of  Britain,  whose  proceedings  in
this  sort  are  as  embarrassing  as  they  are  successful ;  and  the
consequent  hymeneal  arrangements  sadly  destructive  of  mine.
To  preserve  any  correct  list  of  our  fair  toxophilites,  as  far
^  names  are  concerned,  seems  just  as  hopeless  —  owing  to  those
inroads  of  matrimony  —  as  was  a  certain  long-desired  con-
summation to  Penelope's  suitors,  when  dependent  on  the  pro*
gress  of  her  distaff  and  shuttle.  The  catalogue  arranged  so
accurately  to-day,  shall  be  nearly  all  undone  within  the  space
of  six  months.     Let  them,  therefore,  be  taken  with  the  usual

*  Beaux.
FEMALE    ARCHERY.  129

mercantile  proviso,  —  "  errors  excepted/'  —  and  don't  hold
me  responsible  where  I  cannot  control.  Not  satisfied  with
triumphing  over  us  in  every  contest,  these  remorseless  syrens,
like  the  famed  Amazonian  queen,  level  at  their  victims  a  bat-
tery of  darts,  far  more  potent  than  those  previously  exhausted
upon  the  target.
