New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-05-07
TIE MODERN AMAZONS.
Fyom me ran Mau Oazetfe.


DIR. XOller who is acting special cOrre-
sppndcnt Of the Koisehe ZenDgyes an account Of his
reception at the Court OF Tue Portuguese lalf-oreed
Juliann SOnza who In his seml-rUya state OF Whydan
reoices In the possession OF ful equipped battalion OF
notions the OF DE soma have more resemblance
to cops dc ballet than ~ dnrmee aud the
visitors that they would make the fortune Of any en-
Ierlrslng mPreSao VINO Womb n,oaI1s mem b no
has had his educated IN English bOarding-schOO
lie says: rhe tall, broad-chested man. with a
dark yellow almost brown complexion. received uswith
the aniable poeLess OF ponpous arIstocrnt Io wore
long, shrt-lke cotton garment reaching down 10 his
feet high European boots 40 embroidered smoking cap
and--altbough he Is "A Fetish wOrshpper-a Zig BLACK
metal Gloss his chest when II dusk the army OF
amazons iade their entrance into the yard Enthusiastically
alfred looking faDtastical stu by the glare OF
torches which borne before them Shortly before
thrir dance the Chacha distributed Ger
consisted OF 500 spectators, many OF whom
accompanied by their tame sheep. which follow their
masters like dogs. Rum is the ordinary beverage offered
10 visitors In Dahumey.
The alnazons NJ ADome Of whom there at the most
some 5000 ara nOminally the wives Of he King aud ~
such form bOdyguard Shich said he superior TO
the male soldiers In discipline aud ally But
although these amazons accompany the King oil his
wars, think they for show than for service
Among all the savage and semi-savage tribes, singing
and dancing are considered essential drilling and
drumming among ourselves. II Il natural that the
Gated warriors. dancers. aud singers should be as
superior 10 male soldiers IN these accomplishments "a
Chacba,' all Of whoms have served in the army Of
Abone. are women between the ages OF eighteen aud
twenty-five. and 20 Chacha d ,es not 20 " war
they are naturally only kopt FOR show. They have no
separate bar Racks but ye like the soldiers
In different quarters OF the whence they called
together whenever they wanted. At their first
trance, when, marching up In long procession, they
siuied their lord and MASTER astoni-hed at the
military exacitude OF their movements Imagine sixty
yonng women strong aud slender who without losing
any thing OF tner wOmsniness, present decidedly
like appearance. Among Europeans this combination or
the woman and tho warrior could not tie mngined
II Is explained by the peculiar formation OF the negro
skeleton Tue skeletons OF negro women I'm striking
that Of tue nulaftOesl Srikngly like the
skeletons negroes The assertion untrue tnat
the female warriors oil Dahomey have their breasts cut
off, like the neurological amaz0ns Of the ancient Greeks
Their picturesque uniform might furnish masters OF
the ballet with fresh ideas The young faces look
rogusy from under tue white, brimless yoke -oap,
ornamented with black pictures OF animals, such rs
lizards, birds aud others. The feet bare short
knckerboekers OF green red or yellow material come
down nearly 10 the Knees aud bra ht-cOlOred tubc OF
striped silk velvet winch leaves only the neck aud me
free. lie upper part OF tho body WHEN -
supported by cOrsets OF native manufacture broad
belt OF many cOlors heghtens fhe slim appearance OF ne
female warrior. At the left side Of the belt snort
sword IL fastened and small cartridge pocket IN 'front.'
scarf OF white light green silk Is worn like scotch