text:  In point of dress and equipment they are on a par with their mistresses the menial offices in all great harems being performed by negresses;--and frequent instances occur where parents prefer slaves educated in their own families to free women as wives for their sons:--the only distinction being in the title of _kadinn_ which may be considered equivalent to _madame_ and which is always borne by these emancipated slaves instead of _khanum_ (or _lady_ ) used by women of free birth