Sugar planter. [volume] (West Baton Rouge [i.e. Port Allen, West Baton Rouge Parish, La.]) 1856-1925, 1857-03-28

4 King Guarded By Females.

The Moniteur de fArHee publishes
some curious details relative to tho
army Of the King of Siam. One corps
particularly attracts the atten.spn OF
strangers, which is battalion OF tha
Kings Guard, composed Of woIaen.-
This battalion consists of 400 women,
hosen among the handsomest and most
robust girls in the country. ihey re-
csiye oil excellent pay aud their dis,
cipline is perfect. They are admitted At
the age of thirteen, and are placed IN
the army OF reserve at twenty i've
From that period they no longer ssr's
about the Kings person, but are en-
ployed to guard the royal palaces aad
eroon lands. On entering the army
they make VOW ofchastity, from which
there is no exemption unless any ofthan
should a.trac, the Kings attention and
be admitted ancng hia legitimate wives.
The Kings choice seldom falls on thos
most beautiful, but on the most sksItea
IL military exercises. The hopeof saeA
ard sui,naies them with esksok-
d,nary zeal for military Instructions and
Europeans are astonisted at the martial,
appearance Of tha. battalion, as wall IS,
its skill 10 mannuyering and its excellent,
discipline.
Tie costume these women wear ss-
very rich. Their full. dress is comrosst.
Of a white woolen robe, embroidered with
gold. The cloth is extremely hne, and
dsscends as far rs the knee it is COW
cred with llgb, coat Of mail and gilt
curass. The arms are free and the hsad
IS covered wit, a gil. casque. " hen
wearing this dress on state occasions.
their only weapon is lance, which they
handle with wonderful dextsrty. WIshs
their undress they are armed with 70 vs.
ket. The battalion is composed OF two
companies. and each comp ny one hum.
drod women. commanded by captain
OF their own sex. Should the captain
die, the company is drilled for thfes
days by the King, who appeins thsf
most competent to succeed 10 the COM
,naud. The battalion has been eo1n-s.
,nauaed fog the laxtefse years by .o-
man who saved the Kings life at tiger
hunt, by her courage q sA'h' que
possesses e, est influence court aao -
much respected by those aet ",. ,st so'i
nand. She has the same sao.'sn'nent-
as ,nemb Der Of tue royal a.hiy, and
ten elephants are placed at'ef service.
TIE King never undersakesay expe>
aslion wiihou. being accompanied by's
female guard nor does be eser hunt or
even ride out without an escort OF the,
same guard, who are deyoisdIy attachet
to his person. Each individual Of tha.
battalion has five negresses attached To-
her service and having thus no dones-
.ic occupation, she can deyete herself
exclusively to the duties Of her protesS
sion. There is parade ground heaf the
city, where one company is stationed iwo.
DAYS every week to es vcise Themselves
with the lance, the the naskss
and the ,ihe, The kDs tends once 9
month at those exercises, accompanied
his brother, who shares III some degrss
ths sovereign power, and distributes
prizes . those most deserving. These
rewards consists Of bracelets and o.'ar
valuable jewaIry. to which the girls ana
their families attach great Importance.
Those so honored I'll! the Offices o! SER
yeant and corporal.
Punishment is very rare 10 this corps j
when i. is inflicted il consists OF Sun
pension from service for period no.
exceeding three months. But dnels
much more frequent. They must oo
sanctioned, however, by the female cap
tain, and bs Tough. With swords 70 snsf
presence of the entire company. When
the daa.l. of ono OF the parties ensHess
the deceased receives /. magnificent D.
neral, snd the high. priest pronounce
psnesyrio declaring that tho deceased ~
her yalor has, naarilsl etesna. rest - tue
abode Of the blessed. The survivor rs~
ceives the congratulations Of hsr CON-
panions but as 4 measure Of discipline,
She. is sentenced to pass two months
away from her company in lasting and i
PRAYER. The military organization. N. OF
this battalion is SO perfect that the en-
tire army endeayora TO initiate i. M.
4 late letter from Ciins states thAt
the Governor Of Canton has during tia
short time he held oftioe, basieadel iiss