A golden-haired blonde from the North, with seraphic blue eyes and lily skin, robust yet lithe and sprightly, was evidently the favorite of the Sultan. But in contrast with her style, yet equal in subtle fascination, reclined upon a divan in more haughty retiracy a tropical being, (a near relative of the Sultan,) in whose hair was the sheeny darkness of a thousand starry nights, on whose brunette cheek was the rose’s richest red, and whose flashing black eyes and queenly figure were now in dreamy repose. But they grew animated on the entrance and in the presence of the party; and during their stay and devoirs, her look often rested on the American, “and eyes looked” affinity “to eyes that spoke again.” He became enthralled. His imagination conjectured in her the contrarient higher qualities of a Semiramis, a Cleopatra and a Zenobia. She filled it! At an appropriate time, eunuchs from among the number in attendance, conducted the guests to private apartments. The American dreamed he slept and had a vision. The warm radiance of Zulika’s black eyes still thrill his soul with a loving passion. Mahomet, too, was associated with her in his thoughts. He calls upon him to come and take him among the celestial Houris--“the beautiful eyed--the black eyed.” The apparition of Mahomet is suddenly seen; it somewhat startles, yet, also, composes his other excitement. _Mahomet._--“Brother disembodied! You are still human in your thoughts. Death alone can free you from them. Yet I know them; it is permitted to _me now to learn what transpires in the universe_. It is also vouchsafed to you, in your immaterialized state, to hold converse with the departed spirits, yes, even the Houris, as you request. Among other matters you wonder at the apparently inconsistent decrees I made in regard to wine and women, for my followers on earth. The inhibition of wine was for the masses, who are largely composed of the inconsiderate and craving. Its use will induce the habit and disease of intoxication, which is fatal to mankind, especially in warm climates. Temperance should ever be a moral duty, and abstinence alone can secure it among the many. ‘The joys of wine’ are only for the prudent and thoughtful, and its healthful quality for the ill. It has its proper uses.” _Disembodied._--“In this regard you were right, as an expounder.” _Mahomet._--“In permitting polygamy and even concubinage to some, I reflected that as marriage would not be suitable or convenient or possible to a number of men, I would be making a needful, wise and saving provision for surplus women. The deprivation of wine, too, rendered it more salutary; man will have one, and if he can, both. My system was, also, designed to diminish promiscuous prostitution.” _Disembodied._--“Clever excuse! But how will you defend the propagation of your creed by the sword?”