The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-03-23
WOMEN TIGRESSES.
Dahomey's Intrepid Female
Warriors.
Old KING AoAJA's AMAzoNs
Doend ~ . respesasl Maidenhscd-
Death 10 Theee who Marry-A
Marvel Ameng soldiers.


New YORK sun.
About one hundred and sixty years ago
~ hing % Dahomsy. defeated In battle by
: powerful enemy, fisd 10 his capital be-
fore his pursuers. In Sheer desperation he
armed 400 OF his palace women and sent
them out 70 turn the fortunes Of war or
Parish in the downfall Of their master.
Victory sided with the female legion. they
routed the invaders. and their deeds Of
valor perpetuatud nahomsy 10 this day II
il not known whether women ever bore
arms for their king in Dahorncy before. but
II Ii certain that ever aimee old King
Aeaia's brilliant cxpedieni III IT'S the most
remark able feAtars Of the country has been
10 syegimentx OF Amaxons. and some Of
these celebrated female soldiers we're found
dead the other day among the 800 warriors
al the king, the victims Of French bullets,
Who were left on the battlefield in Porto
E0vo.
There il no doubt that these women died
Gghtine desperately. They are soldiers by
prolcssion. Other warriors may expect -
fhe mrci of victory presents of wives and
Che pleasures oil domessicity, But there is
no such agreeable variety In the life Of the
Amaxons. No man may marry them un-
less the king himself chooses now and then
. take Z consort from his female army.
Hound 10 3 perpetual maidenhood. they
kacw that = cruel death will he their pun
ishmont II they are found TO violate the
iaws Of chastity. Trained in . school
where every womauly sentiment Is sup
oresxed. whore they are taught that they
Arc not weak. bat strong. and that 10 know
NO fear il the GROWING excellence they
should strive for. no wonder they are un.
x<xet and eecome unnasaraily feroeious
n il = trite saying that women can fall
lower than men. II IL certain thai they can
Al and dare - much in hattie ~ men. es-
r,ciaifv In nahosaey. But u ts not the
,,olIry IL the king ne<silessly Ga expose his
Amazon regiments when he has plenty OF
men "a fiehs and be killed. In hattie they
surround and guard the monarch. and are
usually called into action only when the
contest i very bot and close.
ID has been the good fortune Of tao
enraishmen, Ekersrhly aud Bar ton. 20
ssudv this unique feature Of military life
IS pahomey. Burton says that As soldiers
sh~ masons are very formidable enemies
Th.v are armed with fsntloeks and load
ena Are rapsdly. Time ard again shsy
Nave xhowu che most desperate courage
ara reckless daring. Nov and then. ho~.
ever. . great reverse has oserssken the
Aua.ous. a. In ISL and again an sSsi.
chen thew were terribly sas wn hv the
Ahheckusans. and are said se have h<ss
k,lied hv hundreds. ~ The Frscntlsss foe
-ha.ed them toward the capital skeFteh-
+ who lived nearly . rear Al the king :
crsat town. reports thai the Amazoas de-
iirh,e<I ia nothing more than in polishing
sk~fr run barrels. whsch sieaasd lks silver
. ne sun. He formed. however. = very
r,or opanton cx thesF Workmanship. Ana
- ertunlsy - ungaasans as to say that u
49, hit haysssek Il would rrohAhiy BE
rsfuiy acrisiensal.
- nopef os the tsss SEA os naheu<y 10