The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1851-08-08
AMAZoNs in DAIlOMEY, (AFRlCA.)
by COMMANDER FORBES, tF THE. BRITISH
NAVY.

BY COMMANDER FORBES, IF THE BRITISH
NAVY.
It's rarely that Europeans are called
npon to believe in the existence of ANA /
zons-6ght,ng women prepared to do
battle on all aronnd, the terror Of the
neighboiing tribes, dressed in the attire
Of male soldiers, armed with muskcts
and swords. These sable ladies' perform
prodigies of valor and not un1reqnenily,
by fortunate charge. save the honor OF
the male soldiers, by bearing down Ill
before them, discovering themselves 10
the astoSished and abashed prisoners to be
women, exceeding their male coadjutors
in cruelty and all the sIonger passions.
Excited by the hopes Of reward, the
evil passions ofman are fearfo'ly develo-
ped in Dahomey. Bloodmoney is the
sure reward Of valor, the price Of blood
the only fee; and it matters not II the
prisoner is brought alive 10 the monarch,
as his reeklng head is almost equally
valuable. Without trophy, such as a
prisoner or head, the soldier had better
have been killed; disgrace, and often
condign punishment, follow 10 The de-
faulters Of either sex. 5
There is nota more extraordinary army
in the known world than that Of the
military nation Of Dabomey. The nuc-
leus Of the national power, the throne,
is occupied at the pleasure ofthe militant
people, who claim an annual war as a
birihright. If, from want of courage,
or any other insufficient reason, the mon.
arch dares TO dispute the will Of his peo-
pie, he who could by serving the vitiated
appettes Of his soldiers have taken the
lives Of any, high or low, is as surely de-
,hroned and murdered.
In speaking Of the two armies, let moi
The sensuaIist imagine that Dahoman
campaign is disgraced by freedom il
would almost be natural TO suppose io
belong to SO curiously disposed an army
--half male, half female. On the con-
tary, the latter are in charge Of eunuchs,
officered by their own sex, and scorn the
softer allurements Of their nature. To
use their own words, sfhey are men, not
women! their nature is changed! they
will conquer or die!' Such expressions
could not be openly used, even as mere
boasts, by woman standing in a jealous
position, einulating the most daring acts
and achievements OF man, unless funda
mentally true; and with tho certainty o
being openly conlradicied, and brough
to shame, by their felIow-soldiers Of the
opposite sex. Such then are the anna
IONS, In whose chastity we may believe
when we will bear in mind that tho ex.
ireme exercise Of one passion will gen
orally oyliterate the vsrY sense of the
others. The amazons, while indulgine
in the excitement of ihe most fearful
c ueliies, forget the other desires of oul
fallen nature.
| Superstition assists in the preservation
oc the chastity of this most singular army
The amazons are accommodated within
the precincts Of the haiem walls, and
when abroad share the honor o. roya
wives. The bell announces to the ira
yeler that he must not gave. on them
and thus they have not much opportunity
Of joining in conversation with the op
posite sex. On the thresholds Of the
royal portals charm is set of so deter
mined a nature as 10 render enceinte The
offender religiously believing its exist
ence. The fra:l amazon not unfrequentll
sickens, and confesses tho seducer'
name, though fully aware that the decapi
tation Of herself and her lover is The
immediate result.