New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1857-03-14
A King Guarded by Females.

The Nfoni.eur de fArmee publishes some curious
details relative tosfhe army Of the King of Siam.
One corps attracts the attent Of stran
gers, which is battalion OF the Kings Guard com.
posed Of women. This battalion consists Of 400
women, chosen among the handsomest and most ro-
bust girls in the country. They receive excellent nav
and their discipline perfect They are admitted to
serve at the age Of thirteen, and are placed in the
army Of reserve at twenty-five. From that period
they longer about the Kings person. but are
employed to guard the royal palaces and crown lands
On entering the army they make VOW Of chastity,
from which there is no exemption unless any Of them
should attract the Kings attention and be admitted
among his legitimate wives. The Kings choice sci.
dom falls on the most beautiful, but on the most
skilled in military exercises. The hope OF such re
word animates them with extraordinary zeal for mill
tary instructions end Europeans are astonished at
the martial appearance of that battalion. well
its skill in maneuyering its excellent discipline.
The costume these women wear is very rich: Their
full dress is composed Of white wooden robe, en-
broidered with gold. The cloth is extremely fine,
and descends far the knee it is covered with
light coat Of mail and gilt cuirass. The arms are
free and the head is covered with gilt casque.
When wearing this dress on state occasions, their
only weapon IL lance. which they handle with won
deru dexterity. With their undress they are armed
with a musket. The battalion is composed of four
companies, and each company Of one hundred women
commanded by captain of their own sex. Should
the captain die the company s drilled for three days
by the King who appoints the most competent to
succeed to ;the command. The battalion has been
TIE l2St HSe' years Dy woman VINO
saved the King life at tiger hunt by her courage
and skill She possesses great influence at court and il
much respected by those under her command. She
has the same establishment member of the royal
| family, and ten elephants are placed at her rervce :
The King never undertakes any expedition without
being accompanied by his female guard nor does he
ever hunt or even ride out without escort Of the
same guard. who are devoedly attached to his per-
son. Each individual of the battalion has five ne
crosses attached to her SERVICE and having thus no
| domestic occupation, she can devote herself exclu-
sive!y to the duties of her profession There is a
parade ground near the city, where one company is
stationed for two days every week to exercise them
selves with the lance, the pistol the musket and the
rife. The King attends once month at those exer-
cises, accompanied by his brother who shares in
some degree the sovereign power and distributes
prizes to those most deserving These rewards con-
sst of bracelets and other valuable jewelry to which
the girls and their families attach great importance
Those honored fill the offices of sergeant and cor
! poral F'
Punishment is very rare in this corps, and when il
is inflicted it consists of suspension from service fol
period not exceeding three months But duels arr
much more frequent They must be sanctioned, how
ever by the female captain, and be fought with sword
in presence of the entire company. When the deatl
Of of the parties ensues the deceased receives
magnificent funeral, and the high priest pronounce
panegyric declaring that the deceased by her valo
has merted eternal rest in the abode of the blessed
The survivor receives the congratulations of her
panions but measure of discipline, she is sen
fenced to pass two months away from her company
in fasting and prayer. The military organization q
this battalion is perfect that the entire army
deavors to initiate it.