SAVAGE WARFARE.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 475, 28 May 1890, Page 4

SAVAGE WARFARE.

FIVE HUNDRED DAHOMEY WARRIORS SLAIN. Paris advices from Lagos state that the French garrison at Porto Novo, having been warned that the Dabomians were advancing upon the place, advanced to meet the enemy. A battle which lasted two hours took place. Five hundred Dahomians were killed and fifty Frenchmen wounded. Official despatches confirm the report of a French reverse in Dahomey. One white was killed and twenty native allies were wounded. All the news from the Slave Coast indicates that the young King of Dahomey and his army are waging a desperate war against France. In about every battle thus far they have taken the offensive and they have even left Dahomey to attack their enemy in the French protectorate of Porto Novo.

The losses of the King thus far in war amount to about 2,000 soldiers, or nearly one-fifth of his regular army. One-half of the army is composed of women. All the subjects are liable to military duty, and the King can probably place 15,000 to 20,000 soldiers in the field, a large part of whom, however, would be very poorly equipped. The King’s women warriors are bearing their full share of the fighting. Quite a number of them are reported killed, and the French have beheaded five in retaliation for the killing of French prisoners in the hands of the natives. The women are ferocious fighters. They understand the use of muskets, load and fire rapidly and are by no means enemies to be laughed at.

Each regiment of Amazon troops has its own uniform, which differs in -colour more than in the style cf garments. The troops which act as the King’s bodyguard dress in blue tunics, with grey skirts reaching to the knee. They wear belts and shoulder cross-straps, and black leather cartridge boxes. The troops known as elephant hunters wear brown waistcoats.

They are all well trained in a sort of savage drill, including an ungraceful dance, wbicn is not admirable except for the fact that every movement is carried out in almost perfect unison. They are very free and bold in their manner and walk with a swagger, but many oi them are young and good-looking.