Globalization of the United States, 1789-1861

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Paine, Caroline. Tent and Harem: Notes of an Oriental Trip. New York: D. Appleton and Co., 1859.

Caroline Paine. Tent and Harem: Notes of an Oriental Trip. New York: D. Appleton and Co., 1859. Title page.

A wealthy tourist exploiting the service economy abroad, Paine limned her travels in the Middle East with maximum exotic effect.

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Shall we see the handsome Pacha here? This is his place of residence, and the clean streets add another feather to his cap. We look in vain for him, so let us leave these indolent Turks to their repose, and proceed into the narrower streets, among the half-veiled, dirty Egyptian women, who, with their children upon their shoulders, are strolling about the streets, or peeping at us from the doors of the mud cabins. Poor, ignorant mothers! we would like to impart to you a little of our superior knowledge, which would enable you to convert these pale, squalid little ones, into ruddy, robust children. We sigh as we think of the herculean labor we should encounter in attempting to overcome and root out long established customs and prejudices, and are roused from our reverie, by the cry of “Imsheh, imsheh, osbour, osbour,” uttered by our little Mustapha, the water-carrier, who chances to be in advance. Boy, though he is, his cry of “get out of the way and wait,” is obeyed.