Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1892-09-09
FIERCE WON EN- WARRIORS,
pAHoMEY's ARMY OF 1000 WAR
LIKE AMAZONS.


standing army, which, in peace, is kept
at or near the capital, ready to march
anywhere at moments notice. When
an important war is on hand the King
calls out the reserve, which increases the
strength of his army to IL, 600 or Ii, 600.
The most unique features OF Dahomey
are its large force of women warriors
and its terrible system of religious sacri-
fees, in which hundreds of human VIC
tins are butchered at the capital every
year. Dahomey is the only country in
of its military system. In the year 1923
the King, hard pressed by enemies,
placed large number of women upon
his Notifications to deceive the besieging
army with regard to his military
strength. These women acted with such
unexpected gallantry and engaged with
such abandon and ierocity in the battle
which brought victory to Dahomey that
they were organized into Il permanent
regiment, and women have ever since
been among the bravest sAdiers of the
land. The flower of the fair sex is likely
to get into the army as we'll as nearly al!
the strong minded women, the viragos.
Now and then the King takes corsort
from his women regiments, but no other
man can marry them.
The women are taught that they are
not weak, but strong. Every womanly
sentiment is suppressed, and they become
unsexed aud unnaturally ferocious. But
after all, the system of women soldiers
is a source of weakness as we'll as OF
strength to the country. Dahomey is
rich in soil and in resources, but its pop
ulation is not large aud is decreasing.
1t has less than 800, 900 people. The
country cannot afford to keep large
number of celibate women in its gar
risons. In the natural order of things
these women would be the mothers of
thousands of children; but not only arc
the additions they make to the popula-
tion most Insignificant, but also most OF
the women captured in war become nero
ly the camp followers and servants of the
Amazons, and are under the same re-
strictions rs to celibacy.
Two Englishmen, Messrs. Skertchly
and Burton, made very careful study
of the Amazons. Burton said they
showed the most desperate courage aud
reckless daring, and are very formidable
enemies. Skertchly said that Amazons
delight in nothing more than polishing
their gun barrels, which CLEAN like sill
yer in the sun. The French gainei a
vivid idea of their ferocity in battle dur
ing the late war, when, under deadly
fire from the French fcxtifications, they
made charge after charge up to the
works. When at last put to flight and
pursued, dying women on the ground
caught some of the French troops by the
legs and tried to throw them down and
stab them with their swords. All
Dahomeyan soldiers, men and women,
have ration of intoxicating liquor
before they 90 into battle. The French
say that in the war of 1SS0-90 the per-
feet recklessness OF the Amazons was
doubtless increased by liberal potations
of gin. The women had just enough
liquor to make them devilish without
interfering with their powers of locomo-
ton.
Their sleeveless tunics OF blue and
white native cloth, their skirts falling to
the knee, and their short trousers make
it easy to distinguish them from the male
warriors. On parade in the capital they
wear head ornament of horn tips which,
however, is not worn to battle. Neither
do they, when advancing toward the
enemy wear the bells which are always
hung around their necks in time Of
peace. The well-known tinkle of the
Amazon bell makes proclamation to all
the male creation that it is high time to
scurry down the byways or get out of
sight somewhere to avoid meeting the
Kings soldiers; for the man who dares
to keep the road when an Amazon ap.
proaches pays for his tenerity with his
life. On all the highways these women
are more isolated from the other sex
than any nun. Skertchly said it made
his blood boil to be compelled to stink
out of view like thief whenever he
heard that odious bell.
Their weapons are blunderbuses, flint.
locks, and bows and arrows. Their plan
of warfare is always to take the enemy
by surprise. They usually march to the
attack in the gray Of the morning and
before the enemy is awake they are upon
him with their impetuous war cry aud
fierce onslaught. Mr.. Chaudouin says
he saw 1000 Amazons in 1889 grouped
around the King, perfectly motionless as
they ste od in line but ready to bound at
signal from their master. Old or youns,
homely or handsome, they were re.
markable spectacle. They appeared
every whit as muscular rs the male
warriors and their bearing was military.
The crowd OF people approached too
near and half dozen Amazons walked
along the line ilourIshing their guns and
crying with imperious gesture, "Baok,
back, " whereup0n the crowd made haste
to retire 10 a safe distance.
After the late war King Dehauzin
caused a number of Amazons to he be
headed on the charge OF eowardiee. lie
endeavors in every way to make them
perfectly fearless aud indifferent to pain.
Mr.. Borghero describes sham tight that
he witnessed at the capital few years
ago. Thousands of bundles of lhorny
cactus bushes made an obstruction 1900
feet long, twenty-five feet broad, and
seven feet high. Beyond this obstruc-
ton rose the framewora of a house OF
the same length aud sixteen feet broad