Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1857-06-26
a. KING GUARDEp.RYF FRMAhEs..

A KING NGsGUARDEDeBYF FEMALES,
Fhe Moniteure del Armie publishes
some curious details relative tothe army
OF the King Of Siam. One corps par,ieu-
iarly attracts the attention of strangers,
which IS battalion of the Kings Guard
composed otwomen. This battalion con-
slsts. OF 400 women. chosen among the
handsomest and most robust girls Of the
country. They receive excellent pay
and their discipline is perfect. They are
admitted 20 serve at the age Of thirteen,
and are placed in the army of reserve at
the age of twenty-five. From that peri.
cd they are no longer permiued'to serve
about the Kings person, but are resery-
ed TO guard about the royal palaces and
crowned lands.
On entering the Kings 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 seldom falls on the
most beautiful, but on the most skilled in
the military exerciees. The hope for
such reward animates them with extra
ordinary zeal for military instructions,
and Europeans are astonished at the mar.
tlal appearance ofthat battalion as well as
its skill in maneuvring and its ex.
cellent discipline.
The costume these women wear is We.
ry rich. Their full dress is composed of
white woolon robe, embroidered with
gold. The cloth is extremely fine and
descends as far as the knee tits covered
with light coat of mail and gay cui.
rass. The arms are free and the head
covered with guilt casque. When wear
ing this dress on state occasions, their on.
y weapon is lance, which they handle
with wonderful dexterity. With their
undress they are armed with q musket.
The battalion is composed OF four compa-
MES, and each company of one hundred
women, commanded by captain OF their
sex:
Should the captain die, the company is
drilled for three days by the King, who
appoints the most competent to the com.
mand. The battalion has been command.
ed for the last Eve years by a woman
who saved the Kings life at tiger hun.
by her courage and skill. She possesses
great influence at court aud is much re-
SpOShOo LuOoo uGI COumhuus
She has the same establishment as
member of the royal family and ten ele.
plants are placed at her service. The
King never undertakes any expedition
without being accompanied by his fe.
male guard, nor does he ever hunt or
even ride out without an escort Of She
same guard, who are devotedly attach.
ed TO his person.
Each individual Of the battalion has
five negresses attached to her service !;
and having thus no domestic occupation.
she can devote herself to the duties Of
her profession. There is a parade.ground
near the city, where one company is sta
toned two days every week to exercise
themselves with the lance, the pistol, the
musket and the rifle. The King attends
once month at those exercises, accom-
panied by his brother, who shares in
some degree. the sovereign power, and
distributes prizes to those most deserving.
These rewards consist of bracelets or 9th.
er valuable jewelry, to which the girls
and their families attach great Importance.
Those so honored fill the office OF ser.
geant and corporal.