The Bad Lands cow boy. [volume] (Little Missouri, Dakota [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-1886, 1885-07-23
Famous Pam Amazons of Dahomey.

Famous Amazons Of Dahomey,
From the Pail Mall Gazette. g gs5,.
Il The Germans, to whom Africa as
field Of colonization is mine Of mex
aaustible novelty, have just rediscov-
cred the amazons Of Dahomey. These
famous WARRIORS of,whom SO little has
Ieen heard for SO many years, have been
inspected by DR.. zoller, who gives an
account Of his reception ct the court of
the Portuguese half breed, Juliano de
Souza, who, in his semi-royal state OF
Whydah, rejoices in the possession of a
fully equipped battalion Of women who
fight Alas! however, for our precon-
ceived notions, the amazons of Do
Souza have more resemblance to corps
de ballet thai" to a corps d'armee, and
the deepest impression which they left
on the mind Of their visitors was that
they would mako the fortune of any en-
terpr1sing impresario who would intro
duce them to European audiences.
"a Of Juliano de Souza himself, who
has had his son educated in an Eng
fish boarding school, and married by a
Fresh priest, DR.. ZolIer speaks in high
terms: t13%2- F&2Ti
The tall, broad chested man, with a
dark yellow, almost brown, complexion,
received us with the amiable politeness
Of o pompous aristocrat. He wore
long, shirt like garment reaching down
to his feet, high European boots, an
embroidered smoking cap, Il and-al-
though he is Fetish worshipper-a big
black metal cross on his chest. After
apologizing, for the remarkable costume
which he had been Obliged. to don be-
cause of indisposition, Juliapo gave the
sign for the beginning Of the festivities.
The stage f9r these was the open space
in front of Juliano's house, o, rather
rickety building of two stories in the
middle of the village, which was filled
with the upper ten of Whydah, q null
titude of black spectators all of whom
pretend to be of European descent. But
woe to him who, without being white
man, dares to wear European boots, or
allow himself to be carried in O ham
mock, the European, means of convey
ance. Not even the King would ever
dream of committing so objectionable o
breach of African etiquette.
"When it was dusk the army Of anna
IONS made their entrance into the yard
Enthusiastically attired, and looking more
fantastical. still by the glare of the
torches which were borne before them.
Shortly before their dance commenced
the Chacha distributed German beer
and Bania rum among the audience,
which consisted Of some 500 spectators,
many of whom were accompanied by
their tame sheep, which follow their
masters like dogs. Rum is the ordin-
airy beverage offered to visitors in Daho-
mey. The Amazons of Abome, of whom
there are at tile most some 5000, are
nominally the. wives Of the King, and
as such form a body guard, which is said
to be superior to the male soldiers in
courage, discipline, and loyalty. But
although these amazons accompany the
King on all his wars, I think they are
moro for show than for service. Among
all the savage and semi-savage tribes
singing and dancing are considered as
essential as drilling and drumming
among ourselves. It is natural that
the amazons, having from their earliest
childhood been educated as warriors,
dancers, and singers, should be Us supe-'
rior to male soldiers in these accom-
plishments as our Guards are to the re-
serves. : M" a.. -s-s5-i%.s A..
r "The amazons Of the Chacha, all Of
whom have served in the army of Abo-
me, are women between the ages Of
eighteen and twenty-five;4 and as the
ChachaF does not go to war. they are
naturally only kept for show.
They have separate barracks, but
live, like the thirty male soldiers, in,
different quarters OF the town, whence
they are called together whenever they
are wanted. At their first entrance,
when, marching up in q long process
sion, they saluted their lord and mas
ter, I was astonished at the military ex-
actitude of their movements. Imag-
inc sixty young women strong and
slender, who, without losing anything
of their womanliness, present decided,
ly warlike appearance. Among Euro
peans this combination of the woman
and the warrior could not be imagined :.
here it is explained by the peculiar for
nation of the negro skeleton. The
skeletons Of negro women lin striking
contrast to these of the mulattoes) nre
strikingly like the skeletons of male
negroes. (
Z. The assertion is untrue that the fe-
male warriors of Dahoney have their
breasts cut of, like the NEUROLOGICAL
amazons OF the ancient Greeks. Their
picturesque uniform might furnish our
masters of the bullet with fresh ideas.
The fresh young faces look roguishly
from under the white, brinlless yokey
cap, ornamented with black pictures of
animals, such as lizards, birds, and
others. The feet are bare; short
knickerbockers Of green, red, or
yellow material come down nearly
to the knees, and q bright-colored
tunic OF striped silk or velvet,
which leayes only the neck and the
arms free, covers the upper part Of tho
body, which is supported BY corsets Of
native manufacture. a broad belt Of
many colors heightens the slim appear
nnce of the female warrior. AZ the
lett side OF the belt o sword is fastened,
and small cartridge pocket in front.
"A scarf Of white or light green silk is.
worn like Scotch plaid. The arma-.
ment consists Of swords, battle axes, and
guns, which latter are put aside during
the dance. Quite apart from the effect
OF combined dancing and singing, the.
performances, which went for several
hours uninterruptedly before our ewes,
were quite in the style OF our corps de
ballet. with the only difference that;
perhaps no other corps de ballet would
dance with equal exactitude. n 81
First came q tall and somewhat ell
fderly woman. She was tile captain.
and as aha autarad tho an,, Laf1 49, dis-',.