Palace,or rather the ground which it includes,is several acres in extent.A terrace encloses it toward the lagoon;on the side of the land,a palisade with several gates.These are scarce intended for defence;a man,if he were strong,might easily pluck down the palisade;he need not be specially active to leap from the beach upon the terrace.There is no parade of guards,soldiers,or weapons;the armoury is under lock and key;and the only sentinels are certain inconspicuous old women lurking day and night before the gates.By day,these crones were often engaged in boiling syrup or the like household occupation;by night,they lay ambushed in the shadow or crouched along the palisade,filling the office of eunuchs to this harem,sole guards upon a tyrant life.
Female wardens made a fit outpost for this palace of many women.
Of the number of the king's wives I have no guess;and but a loose idea of their function.He himself displayed embarrassment when they were referred to as his wives,called them himself 'my pamily,'and explained they were his 'cutcheons'-cousins.We distinguished four of the crowd:the king's mother;his sister,a grave,trenchant woman,with much of her brother's intelligence;the queen proper,to whom (and to whom alone)my wife was formally presented;and the favourite of the hour,a pretty,graceful girl,who sat with the king daily,and once (when he shed tears)consoled him with caresses.I am assured that even with her his relations are platonic.In the background figured a multitude of ladies,the lean,the plump,and the elephantine,some in sacque frocks,some in the hairbreadth RIDI;high-born and low,slave and mistress;from the queen to the scullion,from the favourite to the scraggy sentries at the palisade.Not all of these of course are of 'my pamily,'-many are mere attendants;yet a surprising number shared the responsibility of the king's trust.These were key-bearers,treasurers,wardens of the armoury,the napery,and the stores.