Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1886-11-20
Salt gakr 9emotrat.
SATURDAY. NOVEMBER % 1ese
AMAZONS OF DAHOMEY.
herman COrrespOndent's visit 70
the Portuguese UaIs-Breed.

The tall, broadchested man, with q
dark yellow, almost brown, complexion.
received us with the amiable politeness
VI pompous aristocrat. lie wore a long
slirt-llke cotton garment reaching down
10 ms leet, high European boots an en-
DrolIered smoking-cap, and, although he
Is ietlsh worshiper, big black metal
cross on his chest. After apoogizing for
the remarkable costume which he had
been obliged to don, because of his in
disposition, Juliano gave the sign for the
beginning OF the festivities. The stage
lor these was the open space in front OF
Jullano's housed rather rickety build
ing OF two stories in the middle of the
village, which was filled with the upper
ten OF Whydah, multitude 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 hammock, the European
means OF conveyance. Not even his
Majesty, the King, would ever dream of
committing so objectionable breach of
African etiquette. When it was dusk the
army OF Amazons made their entrance
INTO the yard, Enthusiastically attired and
looking more fantastic still by the
glare OF the torches which were borne be-
fore them.
Shortly before the dance commenced
the 'Concha" distributed German beer
and Bahia 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 ordinary
beverage offered to visitors in Dahomey.
The Amazons Of Abome, of whom there
are at the most some 5000, are nom.
llnally the wives Of the King, and as such
form bodyguard which is said to be su-
perior to the male soldiers in courage,
discipline and loyalty. But although
these Amazons 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 dancing are considered as essential
as drilling and drumming among our
selves. 1t is natural that the Amazons,
having from their earliest childhood been
educated as warriors, dancers and sing
ers, should be superior to male soldiers
in these accomplishments as our guards
are to the reserves. The Amazons of the
"Chacha," all of whom have served in
the army OF Abome, are women between
the ages OF Is and %, and as the "Cha-
cha" does not 90 to war, they are nat
uralIy only kept for show. They have
no separate barrack, 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 long procession, they saluted
their lord and master, | was aston
lshed at the military exactitude of
their movements. Imagine sixty young
women, strong and slender, who, without
losing anything of their womanliness,
present war-like appearance. Among
Europeans this combination OF the woman
and the warrior could not be imagined ;
here it is explained by the peculiar
formation of the negro skeleton. The
skeletons of negro women lin striking
contrast to that of the mulattoes) are
strikingly like those of male negroes.
The assertion is untrue that the female
warriors of Dahomey have their breasts
cut off like the mythodical Amazons Of
the ancient Greeks. Their picturesque
uniform might furnish our masters of the
ballet with fresh ideas. The fresh young
faces look roguishly from under the
white, brimless yokey.cap, orna.
mented 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 a bright-colored
tunic of striped silk or velvet, which leaves
only the neck and arms free, covers the
upper part OF the body which it supported
by corsets of native manufacture. A
broad belt OF many colors brightens the
slim appearance of the female warrior.
AT the left side OF the belt short sword
is fastened and a small cartridge pocket
in front. A scarf of white or light green
silk is worn like Scotch plaid. The ar
mament consists OF swords, battle-axes
and guns, which latter are put aside dur
ing the dance.
Quite apart from the effect of combined
dancing and singing, the performances
which went on for several hours uninter-
ruptedly before our eyes, 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 eXacttude.
First came tall and somewhat elderly
woman. She was the Captain, and as she
entered, the son OF the "Chacha" whis-
pered to me: "Just look how we'll MY
mother dances" Then followed, with
battle-axes uplifted, the younger officers,
and in their rear the still youger troops,
now dashing towards us in their sham
fight, now wheeling round, dispensing,
and again mounting. And all this ryth-
mical movements, half war-like, half CO.
quettish, but never clumsy, the eloquent
play OF the bare, round arms recalling to
the mind the limbs of ancient classical
statues. All dances which ! have seen
performed among savage and demi-sav-
age people have been grotesque and to a
certain degree voluptuous. Here for the
first time performance was given which
would have held its own before a serious