Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1885-05-28
The Amazons of Dahomey.

Dr.. Zoller, a correspondent Of the
Kulmische Zetung, writes as follows
of the famous women warriors Of
Africa: The Amazons of Abome, Of
whom there are at the most, some
6 600, are uominally the wives of the
klrg, and rs such, form a body guard
which IS said to be superior 10 the male
soldiers in courage, discipline, and
loyalty But although these amazon
accompany the king on all his wars,
| think they are more for sho than
for service. Among all the savage
and semi savage tribes, singing and
dancing are conBidered as essential as
drilling and drumming among our
selves. II is natural that the amazons,
having from their earliest childhood
been educated as warriors, dancers,
and singers, should be superior TO
male soldiers in these accomplish
ments as our guards are to the re
serves. The amazons of the cha
cha, slI Of whom have served
in the army of Abome, are
women between the ages Of Is
and Is, and as the "chacha' does
not 90 to war, they are naturally only
kept for show. They have Ro sepa.
rate barracks, but live. like the thirty
male soldiers, in different quarters Of
the town, whence they are called to-
gether whenever they are wanted. AT
their first entrance, when marching
up in large procession, they salutcd
their lord and master, | was aston
ished at the military exactitude Of
their movements. Imagine sixty
young womea, strong and slender
who without losing any of their
womaaliness, present a decidedly war.
like appearance. Among Europeans
this combination of the woman and
the warrior could not be imagined !;
here 1t is explained by the peculiar
formation of the negro skeleton.
The skeletons of negro women, Ia
striking contrast to those of the mulat-
toes, are strikingly like the skeletons
of male negroes, The assertion is un-
true that the female warriors
of Dahomey have their breasts
cut of, like the neurological anna
IONS of the ancient Greeks. Their
picturesque uniform might furnish
our masters of the ballet with ma y
fresh ideas. The fresh young faces
look roguishly from under the white,
brimless yokey~cap, ornamented with
black ,ictures of animals, such 2s liz
ards, birds and others. The feet are
bare; short knickerbockerS of green,
red, Or yellow material come down
nearly to the knees, and bright col
ored tuuic Of striped silk or velvet,
which leaves only the neck and the
arms free, covers the upper part OF
the body, which is supported by cor
sets of native manufacture. A broad
belt of many colors heightens the slim
appearance of the female warrior.
At the left side of belt short
sword is fastened, and a small carts
ridge pocket in front. A scarf OF
white or hight green silk is worn like a
Scotch plaid. The armament consists
of swords, battle~axes and guns, which
latter are put aside during the dance.
/ Quite apart from the effect Of coul-
/ 0lned dancing and singing, the per,
i formances. which went on for several
( hours uninterruptedly before our eyes,
were cutie ia the style of oul
corps de ballet, with the only differ
erence that perhaps no other corps de
/ ballet would dance with equal exact
itude. First came a tall and some
what elderly woman. She was The
captain, and as she entered, the sol
Of the "chacha" whispered to me
Just look how we'll my motho
dances" Then followed, with battle
axes uplifteG, the young officers, anC
II. their rear the still younger roops
now dashing towards us in their shan
fight, now wheeling around, dispers
ing. and again uniting All dance
which have seen performed amont
savage and dsmi-savage people hay
been grotesQue and TO certain dc
gree vouptuous. Here for the hrs
f tirae a performance was given whicI
would have held its own Sefore
serious critic and aesthetic.