The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1888-01-13
AMAZONS OF SLAM.
The Kings Body Guard OF 400
Handsome Woman Warriors
From the Chicago Tribune. !

liAO-A t44t NAiCaSO 1l4bAl-eE
Among the visitors 10 the London
exhibition has been the Prince Of Siam,
| brother to the King. He Is a little man,
but has an olive complexion and black
eyes, speaks English perfectly, and has
charming manners As an example OF
one Of the good results Of the American
exhibition, during his visit he made a
most careful inspection Of the goods in
the main building and spent thousands
II dollars on all the useful things he
= which We're mp to the present time
known to Siam. He gave an order for
100 typewriters to one manufacturer, a
larger order for safes to another, ordered
four dozen carpet sweepers, IA steam ell
CINE, and number of other ingenious
Things which attracted his attention, 50
-hat these exhibitors have the satisfac-
ton OF knowing that they have opened
a market for themselves III Siam at no
greater expense than going to the Amer
lean exhibition. The fashion having
been set By the Prince. large orders for
all these goods he assured them would
follow; it would therefore appear that
the people in his country, which very
few Of us stop to realize is twice as
large III Its area as France, and has a
population Of about $4,000, 900 people,
are all making rapid strides toward mod
arn civilization.
He gave Us some curious information,
however, about the Kings amazOns, the
8ova. Guarl beng composed entirely
Il women. This battalion consists of
400 wOm-n, chosen from among the
handsomcs. and robust girls in the
c0antTy. They receive excellent pay,
and their dis ,pline is perfect. They
are admitted to serve at the age of 13, and
are placed in the army Of reserve at the
age of 26. From that neriOd they no
longer serve about the X rs pers0n, but
are employed to guard the royal p~-aees
and the crown lands.
On entering the army the amazons
make a vow of chastity, for which there is
no exemption unless amy of them should
attract the Kings attention and be ad-
mitted among his lee innate wives. The
Kings choice seldom falls on the most
beautiful, but on thu most skilled in
military exercises. II costume these
women Wear is very l'ch. Their full
dress is composed of II white wooden
robe, embroidered with gold The
cloth is extremely fine al descends as
far as the knee; it is covered with q
light coat Of mail and gilt cuirass.
The arms are free and the head is COW
cred with gilt casQue. When wear
ing this dress on state occasions their
only weapon is a lance, which they han
die with wonderful dexterity With
their undresa they are armed with
musket. The battalion is composed of
four companies, and each company of
100 women is commanded by a captain
of their own sex. Should the captain
die the company is drilled during three
days by the King, who appoints the
most competent to succeed to the com
manl.
The King of Siam never undertakes
any expedition without being accom-
panied by his female guard, nor does he
ever hunt, or even ride, without an eS-
cort of the same guard, who are de-
votedly attached to his person. Every
, individual of the battalion has five ne
crosses attached to her service, and,
having thus no domestic occupation.
she can devote herself exclusively to the
duties of her profession. There is
parade ground near the city where one
company are stationed for two days
every week to exercise themselves in the
use of the lance, the pistol, and the
rifle. The King attends once a month
at these exercises, accompanied by his
brother, who shares in some degree the
sovereign power and distributes prizes
TO those most deserving. When the
death of one OF the parties ensues, the
decreased receives magnificent funeral,
and the high priest pronounces a pane
gyric declaring that the deceased, by her
valor has merited eternal rest in the
abode of the blessed, The survivor re-
ceives the congratulations of her com
panions, but as measure Of discipline
she is sentenced to pass two months
away from her company in fasting and
prayer. The military organization of
this battalion is 50 perfect that the en-
tire army endeavor to initiate it.