The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1857-03-07

SIAMEsE FEMALE SoLDIERs.-The fo,ou;r,
description of the King of Slams female m;,i,.,s
body guard though not entirely new, Is interes.ins
from its minuteness. /. appears in the Monj,es,
de L Arme
A battalion of the Kings Guard consists of 4Ot
women, chosen among the haudsomess and mos,
robust girls in the country. They receive excel
lent pay and their discipline is peril They are
admitted TO serve at the age of -, and placed
in the army of reserve at %. From. that period
they no longer serve about the kiDgs person, bu
are employed to guard the Royal palaces anG
crown lands. On entering the army they make g
Vo" ct chastity, from which there ia no exemption
unlt IS any o. them should attract the Kings at
tentlon and be admitted among bis legitimate
wives The King choice seldom falls on the most
beautiful, but on the most skilled in military exer
ci5es.
Inc hope of such reward animates them with
ex'raordinary zeal for military instruction, and
europeans are astonished at the martial appear
ahce o' mat battalion, well as its skill in ma
noeuvering and excellent discipline The costume
these women wear is very rich Their full, dress
IL composed of a white woolleu robe embroidered
with gold. The cloth is extremely fue and de
scends as fer as the knee; it is c6vared With =
light coat OF mail aud gilt cuirass
The arms are free, and the head is covered with
elt casque When wearing this dress on State
oecasl ms their only weapon is lance which they
handle with wonderful dexterity With tn .ir un,
u
non IL composed of four companies and each CON-
pany IO3 women, commanded by a ca ptan of their
sex Should the captain die the compsny ia
utilied Tor three days by the King, who appoints
'ne most competent to succeed 10 the command
ne battalion has been command d for the last
five years by woman who saved the Kings If,
al uger hunt by her courage and skill. She
possesses great lahuence at Court, and ia much
respected oy those under her command. She has
Lne same establishment as a member of the royal
la-I,s
wee lhe King never under axes anv expedition
"ithoct oeing accompanied by his female guard
nor does he ever hunt, or even ride out without
an escort of the same guard, who are devoteily at
taenea 10 lis person. Each individual of the bat
'suioh mas nVe negre5ses attached to her service
anu, haYlng thus no domestic occuDa tion she can
ueFote he:seit exclusively to the duties of her pros
iessi'n There is parade ground near the CITY
"here one company is stationed for two days
every week to exercise themselves in the usa Of
tue !sntr the pistol, the musket, audthe rifle,
1he King attends once a month at these exer-
c'-es' accompanied by bis brother who shares in
some degree the sovereign power, and distributes
prizes 10 the most deserving These rewards con-
ssI CT bracelets or other valuable ieweIry to
which the girls and their families attach ereat im-
portance Those honored fl the offices of ser.
gpant and corporal. Punishment is very rare in
the corps, and when it is Inflicted it consists Of
suspension from service for period not exceeding
llree months. But duels are much more frenuent
lhey must be sanctioned, however by the female
captain. and be fought with swords in the pre-
sence OF the entire company When the death
OF one OF the parties the deceased receives
magnificent funeral, AID the high priest pro-
nounces panegyric declaring that the deceased
by her valor has merrted eternal rest in the abode
OF the blessed. The survivor receives the cons
gratuations OF her companions but as a. meas,
ure CT discipline she is sentenced to pass two
months away from her company in fasting and
prayer. The military organization of this battal-
lon so perfect that the entire army endeavors to
initiate il.