Connecticut western news., 1885-06-03

T
 The Germans, to whom Africa as field of colonization is a mine of mex haustible novelty, have just rediscovered the amazons of Dahomey. These fa- nous warriors, of whom so little has been heard for so many years, have been inspected by Dr. Zoller, who gives an account of his reception at the court oi the Portuguese half breed, Juliano le Souza, who, in his semi-royaI State at Whydah, rejoices in the possession of fully equipped battalion of women who fight. Alas however, for our precon- ceived notions, the amazons of De Souza have more resemblance to a corps de ballet than a corrs de'armee, and the deepest impression which they left on the mind of their visitor was that they would make the fortune of any enter prising impressario who would intro duce them to European audiences.
 Of Juliano de Souza himself, who has had his son educated in an English boarding school, and married by a French priest. Dr. Zoller speaks in high terms.
 ''The tall, broad-chested man, with a dark yellow, almost brown, complexion, received us with the amiable politeness of pompous aristocrat He wore a long, shirt-like cotton garment reaching down to his feet, high European boots, an embroidered smoking cap, -and-al- though he Is Fetish worshiper-a big black metal cross on his chest. After apologizing for the remarkable costume he had been obliged to don because of indisposition, Juliano gave the sign for the beginning of the festivities. The stage for these was the open space in front of Juliano's house, rather rickety building of two stories in the middle ot the village, which was filled with the upper ten of Whydah, a multitude of black spectators, all of whom pretend to be of European descent But woe to him who, without being a white man, dares to wear European boots, or allow himself to be carried in a ham, mock, the European means of convey ance. Not even the King would ever dream of committing so unpardonable a breach of African etiquette.
 "When it was dark the army of anna zons made their entrance into the yard fantastically attired, and looking more fantastical still by the glare of the tore hes which were borne before them. Shortly before their dance commenced the Chacha distributed German beer and Bahia rum among the audience, which consisted of some five hundred spectators, many of whom were accom- panied by their tame sheep, which fol- low their masters like dogs. Rum is the ordinary beverage offered to visitors in Dahomey. The amazons of Abome, of whom there are at the most some six thousand, are nominally the wives of the King, and as such form body guard, which is said to be superior to the male soldiers in courage, discipline, and loyalty. But although these anna zons accompany the King on all his wars, think they are more for show than for service. Among all the savage and semi-savage tribes singing and dan cing are considered as essential as drill ing and drumming among ourselves. Il Is natural that the amazons, having from their earliest childhood been ed. ucated as warriors, dancers, and singers, should be as superior to male soldiers in these accomplishments as cur Guards are to the reserves.
 "The amazons of the CnacEa, al oi whom have served in the army of Abome, are women between the ages of eighteen and twenty-five; and as the Chacha does not go to war, they are naturally only kept for show. They. have no separate barracks, but i've, like the thirty male soldiers, in different quarters of the town, whence they are called together whenever they are wanted. At theil first entrance, when, marching up in g long procession, they saluted their lord and master, was astonished at the mili tary exactitude of their movements Imagine sixty young women, strong ant slender, who, without losing anything of their womanliness, present decid edly warlike appearance. Among Flu ropeans 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 the negro women Gin stlik- ing contrast to these of the mulattoes are strikingly like the skeletons of male negroes.
 "The assertion is untrue that the fe- male warriors of Dahomey have theil
 breasts cut of, like the mythologica
 amazons of the ancient Greeks. Thei
 picturesque uniform might furnish ou
 masters of the ballet with fresh ideas
 The fresh young faces look roguishl.
 from under the white, brimless yoke.
 cap, ornamented with black pictures o
 animals. such as lizards. birds, an
 others. The feet are bare; short knick
 erbockers of green, red, or yellow mate
 rial come down nearly to the knees, an
 a bright-colorel tunic of striped silk c velvet, which leaves only the neck an the arms free, covers the upper part ( the body, which is supported by corset
 of native manufacture. A broad belt c many colors heightens the slim appear , ance of the female warrior. At the lei side of the belt short sword is fastened and small cartridge pocket in front scarf of white or light green silk is wor l like a Scotch plaid. The armamer
 consists of swords, battle axes, and gum , which latter are put aside during th
 dance. Quite apart from the effect o combined dancing and singing, the pc l formances, which went for several hour , uninterruptedly before our eyes, wer quite in the style of our corps de balle
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