charm about his person. There is a devil fetish for driving away evil
spirits, and another for bringing good luck. These consist of small
mounds of earth with a calabash on the top, surrounded by cowries, or a
repulsive-looking face carved out of wood. There are all kinds of
images, such as lions, tigers, dogs, and other animals without a name,
cut out in the rudest manner, and carried about in all great
processions.
The roads, villages, and houses, are filled with “fetish” images, and
sacrifices to the “fetish.” The latter consist of goats, fowls, fruits,
&c., being laid under a small mat shed, around the idol whom it is
intended to propitiate,—dead, of course.
Men, women, and children, consult the “fetish” as to the food they ought
to eat. Some are allowed to eat beef, others only mutton; many are
prohibited to touch the flesh of goats. Poultry is permitted to some,
eggs to others. This nonsense is carried on all over the kingdom, and
strictly enforced; but I have never heard any one, man or woman, say
that the “fetish” forbade them to drink wine or spirits.
We lived at Abomey, in the house of the King’s chief diviner, a man of
high rank and consequence, one of the Privy Council, and the King’s
adviser on all great occasions. The King never does anything without the
diviner first consulting the “fetish,” to find out whether it will be
favourable or unfavourable. His house is full of “fetish” of every
description.
I mention these things concerning the religion and superstition of the
country, to show how impossible it will be for the King to give up at
once the “human sacrifices.” He himself says, “Softly, softly; it shall
be done in time, but not yet; my head would be cut off to-morrow if I
stopped it suddenly!”
A few have an idea of a Supreme Being, but still a very imperfect one.
The King knows more of these important truths than any of his subjects,
and we shall see the good effects of this knowledge by-and-by.
I will now enter upon a description of the country and its resources,
its capabilities for legitimate trade, its present means of subsisting
an hostile force, as well as of resisting an attack, the number and
description of its soldiers, the dangers that would attend the landing
of a force for the occupation of Whydah, and the difficulties to be
encountered in retaining it when once in our possession.
_Description of the country and its resources, &c._—The distance from
Whydah to Abomey is sixty-five miles. It is extraordinary what mistakes
former writers have made in giving the distance from Whydah to Abomey.
Mr. Norris, in 1774, states it to be 150 miles; others more or less,
according to exaggerated reports, or their own imagination.
Whydah is three miles from the sea. From the beach to Whydah the country
is flat, and three pieces of water have to be passed over; the first is
a lagoon that extends eastward to Lagos, with the exception of a portion
of the mainland, three miles broad, and westward to Aghwey and Little
Popoe. This lagoon is navigable for canoes all the year round.
The second and third pieces of water are through marshy ground, roads
being cut through them, about ten feet wide, for the purposes of
traffic, &c. These are almost impassable in the rainy season, and in the
dry season contain about two feet of water, black and muddy, with a very
bad smell.
In 1851 I caught the fever badly from passing through this very swamp.
Whydah is a large straggling place, containing some decent houses. There
are three forts or factories, English, French, and Portuguese. The
French is in excellent repair, and does great credit to the French
gentleman who carries on his business there. The Portuguese is at
present inhabited by missionaries of that nation, and the English fort
is the residence of the Wesleyan Missionary, the Rev. P. W. Bernasko, a
native of Cape Coast.
No one has any territorial rights in this place. The King of Dahomey
reigns supreme, and could turn any “white man” away if he pleases.
There are a great number of guns, all spiked, 9-pounders and
12-pounders, in and around the English fort, which have been there for
ages. There is a curious history attached to these guns, which I will
relate, as it shows that the English are actually the hereditary friends
of the Dahomian Kings.
During the long period that England acknowledged the Slave Trade as
legitimate, and the stowage of slave-ships was regulated by Act of
Parliament, the fort of Whydah was in a high state of preservation, and
Englishmen were appointed as Governors under the authority of the Crown.
They were always on good terms with the Kings of Dahomey, and in those
days great presents of carriages and horses, &c., were made; some of the
carriages I saw the other day at Abomey in a very ricketty state. They
are kept as “heir-looms” in the capital, and pass round with the King’s
treasures.
These Governors had great power over every one, and communicated
directly with the King, who obtained his supplies entirely from the
fort. We had soldiers then to protect the place, and guns were mounted
in all commanding positions.
A deep ditch surrounded the fort, which remains to this day. Whydah was
a flourishing kingdom early in the last century, when it was conquered
by Dahomey, who committed the most horrible outrages, and the country
was reduced to desolation.
It must have been about the year 1750 that the people of Whydah, tired
of the Dahomian yoke, rose against the King, and, no doubt, they would
have been successful had not the English Governor shut his gates and
turned the guns of the fort upon the rebels.
The Dahomian army came in from Savi, a considerable town in those days,
four miles from Whydah, and the rebels were completely defeated, thanks
to the English guns.
The King was very grateful to the Governor for his assistance on this
occasion, and enlarged his privileges considerably; but at the same time
he said, “This won’t do; these English with their guns are formidable
enemies, they may turn me out some day”: so he spiked all the guns in
the fort before he went away, in which state they are to be seen to this
day.
From henceforth, until a few years ago, the Kings of Dahomey had a
strong friendship for the English, and the King mentioned one man in
particular in the time of his grandfather, Mr. James, who was Governor
of the fort, and his “best friend.”
The population of Whydah is large in comparison to other towns in the
kingdom, with the exception of Abomey; it contains, probably, about
12,000 inhabitants, including the soldiers belonging to the Yavogah and
Prince Chedathon.
I observed a great falling off in this place; twelve years ago it was in
a flourishing condition, with many capital houses and merchants residing
there; now, most of these houses are in ruins, and the trade is small.
It will be well to consider the cause of this decline hereafter.
The great families of “De Souza” are either dead or dispersed; those
that remain are of small importance to what their fathers were.
Stock used to be plentiful and very good; at present it may be obtained,
but not in such abundance; it is also dear to what it was formerly.
Water is plentiful both from the lagoon and by wells, which are to be
found in all large houses: it is very good. Fruit, such as oranges, pine
apples, and bananas, is cheap and abundant.
From Whydah to Abomey the whole country is a flat level, and there are
regular villages which are considered as established “halting places”
for the traveller.
The want of water begins after you leave Whydah. There is a dark deep
swamp about three miles distant, over which (that is, the road through
it) large pieces of timber have been placed so as to form a bridge, the
crossing of which is a dangerous operation. The water is black and
muddy.
The country through which we passed varied much, from open plain to
thick forest. There is no other road than the one by which we travelled.
A great part of the country is well adapted for cultivation, and would
produce cotton, silk, coffee, indigo, sugar, and everything else that
grows in similar climates.
Around the villages the ground is cultivated, and produces Indian corn,
cassada, beans, &c., just sufficient to maintain life. As we approached
Abomey, more extensive tracts of ground were under the hands of the
farmer, chiefly belonging to the King, who has to distribute largely to
all his people.
People have no time for peaceful pursuits: war, war, war is alone
thought of, and the King gives them no rest. Many of the Chiefs complain
of this, and seem heartily tired of it. I am sure they would gladly turn
to a better state of things if they dared. They have no time to
themselves: there is always some “custom” going on, and hence the
country is in a state of desolation, and the population is gradually
decreasing.
There are some noble trees in the jungle through which we passed. One
measured nearly 100 feet round its base, and the stem went up to 70 or
80 feet, without a knot or branch to rob it of its beauty. This was the
“cotton silk tree,” of no use whatever, either in its fruit or timber.
The branches were magnificent, and I counted thirty some 50 or 60 feet
in length, of enormous size, and covering a great extent of ground. As
far as we could see and learn, the trees of this country produce no
timber fit for any purposes of building.
I never saw such a scarcity of the necessaries of life. Cattle, sheep,
and goats are few in number: these are only kept by the King and Chiefs,
who do not seem to understand that their wealth would be increased by
breeding largely and keeping up a good supply. The use of milk is
unknown. Fowls are not plentiful; we paid 2s. each for them.
The Chiefs rarely eat meat, the people never. They live upon “cankey,”
which is made from Indian corn, and mixed with palm oil.
They are ardently fond of spirits—the common rum that is imported by
nearly all traders: it is very strong, and they prefer it to wine or
good brandy.
I was astonished at the scantiness of the population. As we passed
through the villages, nearly everybody turned out to see us.
After we had left, every soldier in the place went on to Abomey to swell
the numbers there. There was not a man to be seen on our return—none but
women and children. There may be other villages out of the direct route
to Abomey, and no doubt there are many, because the kingdom is a large
one; but still the great question of the population of Dahomey has been
unquestionably decided by my visit.
We everywhere expressed astonishment at meeting so few people, which
accounts for the small portion of land under cultivation. There are far
more women than men—I should say three to one, which may be the reason
why the Kings of Dahomey, who are always at war, are obliged to raise
and keep up the Amazons, or “woman soldiers,” to the extent that they
do.
As war is made one of the necessities of the State, a constant drain
upon the male population is required, and it naturally follows that the
supply is never equal to the demand; hence the remarkable circumstance
of nearly “5000” women being found in the Dahomian army.
There is, probably, another reason for thus brutalising the minds and
feelings of the softer sex in this country, which is, that the King may
think it a good stroke of policy to encourage and patronise these
Amazons to the extent that he does, for the purpose of creating a
rivalry amongst the men, which will incite them to prove their courage
and their strength beyond that displayed by the other sex.
The Amazons are everything in this country. The King lives with them and
amongst them; they are only to be found in the Royal palaces. When they
go out to fetch water, which is every day and nearly all day, the one in
the front (for they all follow in single line) has a bell round her neck
much like a sheep-bell in England, which she strikes herself whenever
any person is seen approaching. Immediately the men run away in all
directions, and clear the road by which the Amazons are coming. They
then wait till all have passed. The reason for this is, that if an
accident were to happen to any one of these women, either by her falling
down and breaking the water-jar on her head, or if the water-jar fell
off her head, the unfortunate man who happened to be near at the time
would be immediately seized, and either imprisoned for life, or have his
head taken off, as it would be supposed that he was the cause of the
accident.
No wonder, then, that they get out of the way as quickly as possible. We
were always obliged to follow this custom; women are not expected to
avoid them in this manner. It is one of the most absurd laws that even a
savage nation can pass, because it stops business, and delays everybody
on the road. All day long the sound of this bell is heard, and people
are seen flying away. The Amazons seem to enjoy it, and laughed heartily
when we stepped aside to avoid them.
Whatever may be the object in thus keeping up such a large body of
“women soldiers,” there is no doubt that they are the mainstay of the
kingdom. I put down the number at 5000; besides these there are numerous
women to attend upon them as servants, cooks, &c. We certainly saw 4000
under arms at Abomey, and there are more in other parts of the kingdom
residing in the Royal palaces.
They are far superior to the men in everything—in appearance, in dress,
in figure, in activity, in their performances as soldiers, and in
bravery. Their numbers are kept up by young girls of 13 or 14 years of
age, being attached to each company, who learn their duties from them;
they dance with them, sing with them, and live with them, but they do
not go to war with them until they have arrived at a certain age, and
can handle a musket.
These women seem to be fully aware of the authority they possess, which
is seen in their bold and free manner, as well as by a certain swagger
in their walk. Most of them are young, well-looking, and have not that
ferocity in their expression of countenance which might be expected from
their peculiar vocation; but many have passed that time of life when all
passions have ceased to animate, and make their mode of life at least
worth retaining.
They are supposed to lead a life of chastity, and there is no doubt that
they do so, because it is impossible for them to do anything wrong
without being discovered, and such discovery would lead to certain
death. The King alone has the privilege of selecting any of these women
for his wives, which is rarely the case.
As soldiers in an African kingdom, and engaged solely in African
warfare, they are very formidable enemies. They fully understand the use
of the musket, and load and fire with remarkable rapidity. Their
activity is surprising; they would run with some of our best performers
in England. The “Captains” carry the skulls of their enemies in their
girdles, and an occasional jaw is also seen.
During the mornings and evenings large parties of these women are sent
to fetch water for the use of the King and his household, a distance of
many miles. It is a very pretty sight to see long strings of women, with
water-jars on their heads, wending their way silently and quietly across
the country to where the wells are; the only sound to be heard is when
the leader rings her bell for the road to be kept clear.
Water at Abomey is the great drawback of the place. There is none in the
town: it all comes from the swamps, three or four miles in the country.
Women are the principal water-carriers, although men are employed also.
At this season of the year it is very scarce and very bad. The process
of getting it is this. An embankment is formed round the large pools,
which are filled from the draining of the marshy ground, very dirty of
course. Around this large holes or wells are cut, into which the water
filtrates from the pool. Smaller holes are again cut next to these, into
which the water percolates, being this time tolerably clear. Into these
small holes the women dip their calabashes, and in process of time the
water-jar is filled: it is a long operation.
This clear water is only, however, for the higher classes, and for those
that can afford to purchase it. The poor people drink from the muddy
pool, and are thankful for what they get.
The ground is not favourable for boring, being a mixture of iron-stone,
granite, and sand. It sounds hollow as you walk over it.
We visited all the wells, and it is certainly surprising how such a
large population can live upon such a limited supply of water.
The “men soldiers” are more numerous than the “Amazons,” and are armed
in the same way. They are also very active and expert with their
weapons. I should say that the King could not bring into the field more
than 6000 fighting men. This number, with the “Amazons,” will amount to
10,000 altogether. I am quite certain that this is the full extent of
his power.
All these are armed with a musket and short sword, and against their own
countrymen would be formidable. Their fighting is not like ours, but a
system of strategy, cunning, and surprise; their object being to arrive
at the intended point without being heard or seen. Should they succeed,
so much the better for themselves; if not, they fight for an hour or two
in a desultory sort of manner, without order and without discipline;
after which, if they cannot carry their point, the whole army runs away,
and makes the best of its way back to the capital.
It is in the pursuit, as well as in the capture of a place, that the
great sacrifice of life is made. Heads are chopped off without mercy,
and brought in to show the prowess of the captors. It was in the pursuit
of the Dahomian army by the Abbeokutans in 1851 that the Amazons were so
dreadfully cut up. We were told at Abomey that they lost thousands. Many
die also from hunger and exposure, and it is in consequence of these
continual wars that the population of Dahomey is decreasing every year.
The population of Abomey varies very much according as the King is
residing there or not. It is a very large and straggling place, nearly
surrounded by a deep ditch, with gates in different parts. This ditch is
now filled up with trees and bushes, and must have cost much time and
labour to make. Abomey is probably seven miles round, but it must not be
inferred from this that the inhabitants are in proportion. I should say
20,000 is the maximum. The want of population is seen everywhere. If a
census were taken of all the Dahomian territory, 180,000 would, I am
confident, take in every man, woman, and child. Even this number seems
to me, on reconsideration, to be too much. Women and children form
three-fourths of the whole.
Large tracts are passed through without a living creature being seen. If
the forests were cleared, the brushwood cut down, and the inhabitants
were allowed to make use of their time in peaceful pursuits, there is no
doubt that the country would produce everything that is valuable. It
would support a population of many millions, providing some means were
found of obtaining water, which might be done by Artesian wells.
There are no regular roads, but merely a footpath all the way, which,
for many miles in some places, passes through a dense forest, while at
others it is across an open plain, with long grass, bushes, and weeds on
either side.
The chiefs and head men ride upon small ponies, which originally came
from Abbeokuta. These perform the journey from Whydah to Abomey, and
there is no reason why larger animals should not do the same, as the
road is good, with the exception of the swamps and water which have to
be crossed. There is a swamp with a very bad road through it, nine miles
long, about eighteen miles from Abomey, which is impassable during the
rainy season. Even the natives have great difficulty in finding their
way. It was dry when we walked across, and therefore in its best
condition, but we were very glad to get to the end of it. It is full of
deep ruts and holes, and very narrow. The bottom is of a dark clayish
character, and very slippery when the least wet.
From Cannah to Abomey, a distance of eight miles, the road is broad
enough for a dozen carriages to drive abreast, and in Abomey, and around
it, horses might be galloped in all directions.
The country at this time of the year, namely, from the middle of
November to the end of April, is remarkably healthy, at least we found
it so; for a period of fifty-one days we never had an hour’s sickness.
It is much cooler on shore at this season than at sea, although the
temperature is high; still the atmosphere is not oppressive, and during
the harmattan winds it is positively cold: we experienced this on two
occasions, the water becoming in one night almost too cold to drink. It
affects the natives very much, drying up their skin and lips, and
preventing them from washing, as they cannot stand the change. We, of
course, enjoyed it.
The natives are lightly clothed, and are very active on their legs. One
of the principal Chiefs at Abomey told me that he suffered very much
from being obliged to find his way through the bush when he last went to
Abbeokuta.
[Footnote 282: Mr. Bernasko has since denied that women are killed in
the palace, or elsewhere.—R. F. B.]
[Footnote 283: Query, Has taken a compound name?—EDS. No; the former is
the King, the latter the Bush-king.—R. F. B.]
[Footnote 284: By no means.—R. F. B.]
[Footnote 285: See Appendix IV.—R. F. B.]
[Footnote 286: What an assertion!—R. F. B.]
[Footnote 287: Query, Wheelbarrow?—EDS. Yes.—R. F. B.]
APPENDIX IV.
* * * * *
CATALOGUE OF THE DAHOMAN KINGS,
WITH
THE DATES OF THEIR VARIOUS EXPLOITS, THEIR “STRONG NAMES,”
AND THE EVENTS OF THEIR REIGNS.
+--------+-----------------------+-----------+-----------------------+
|_Order._| _Names._ | _Date of | _Various Exploits, |
| | |Accession._| etc._ |
+--------+-----------------------+-----------+-----------------------+
| 1. |His Nyí, or “natural | 1625. |His princely origin at |
| |name,” known to all the| |Allada, and his |
| |people, is Dako: also | |migration north, are |
| |called Do-nun, “Know- | |told at length in |
| |thing” (which nobody | |Chapter V.; his |
| |else knows). Hence the | |conquest of Adan-we, in|
| |“Tacoodonou” of the | |Chapter X.; his |
| |History. Like the | |building the palaces of|
| |modern kings, he took | |“Adan-we” and “Danh’s |
| |(jije) a Nyí Siyensiyen| |Belly” (whence the |
| |or “strong name,” or | |corrupted name |
| |title, after every new | |“Dahome”), in Chapter |
| |exploit, and for this | |V. |
| |object killed one of | | |
| |his mothers-in-law, | |He also conquered |
| |because she asked for | |Pakhi, a little |
| |some European cloth | |district between Adan- |
| |which had been promised| |we and Kana and Addéin,|
| |to her. His principal | |on the left hand coming|
| |titles, recited to the | |from the latter place |
| |gong-gong, are: 1. As | |to Agbome. He enthroned|
| |he is king, he will lay| |himself at Agbome about|
| |low all who do not bow | |1625, and probably was |
| |to his sceptre. 2. A | |born the beginning of |
| |fetish charm that | |the seventeenth |
| |nothing can harm. 3. | |century. His cousin, |
| |Flint-striker is not | |Sawalu, offended by not|
| |kept in sheath. 4. He | |having an important |
| |kills a person that the| |post, fled to the |
| |dyeing-pots may be | |Makhi, or northern |
| |upset. There are many | |hillmen; but was |
| |others, equally | |defeated by Dako. The |
| |fanciful and | |heralds place the |
| |unintelligible. | |founder of the dynasty |
| | | |second in order on |
| | | |their list, as he was a|
| | | |captain, not a king, |
| | | |and they speak of him |
| | | |as the “Palm-tree |
| | | |planter.” He died, |
| | | |after a reign of 25 |
| | | |years, at the Adan-we |
| | | |Palace; which, |
| | | |according to some, was |
| | | |given to him by its |
| | | |king, Awesu. |
| | | | |
| 2. |His natural name is | 1650. |Aho was son of Dako; |
| |“Aho,” which has no | |but after sinning the |
| |signification. The | |sin of Absalom, he fled|
| |History calls him | |to the bush, and lived |
| |Adahoonzou, which (as | |long with the hunters |
| |Adán-hun-zo) means, | |in the plantation |
| |Brave soldier has fire | |villages. At his |
| |or heat. This is | |father’s death he |
| |probably some princely | |returned to Agbome, |
| |or trivial title, for | |slew the King Agri, and|
| |the gong- gong begins | |built over him the |
| |thus:—“Aho- ho-o-o | |Palace of Agri-go-men |
| |Demanakpo (he must kill| |(Chapter X). He |
| |all nations), | |conquered a number of |
| |Ahwandogozo Matonya | |small places, for which|
| |(ready to meet any | |reason his name is |
| |enemy unawares), Edo | |placed by the heralds |
| |addanun nyanbara ’o” | |at the head of the |
| |(when he swears against| |dynastic list, before |
| |the foe the foe is | |that of his father. |
| |afraid), &c., &c. His | |After reigning 30 |
| |strong names are: 1. He| |years, he died in the |
| |will break the walls of| |Agbome Palace, and his |
| |the surrounding peoples| |spirit is “watered” at |
| |to hold Dahome. 2. If | |“Aho’s Gate,” opposite |
| |the nations have any | |the open space called |
| |tricks, they must not | |Patin-sa. |
| |come near him, nor go | | |
| |to any place; but they | | |
| |must take him out. | | |
| | | | |
| 3. |Natural name Akaba | 1680. |Akaba was the brother |
| |(_i.e._, A ‘Kábá, “Oh, | |of Aho, and wrested the|
| |tall, strong man!”). He| |kingdom from his nephew|
| |is also known as Hwes’ | |Abosasa, who flying to |
| |Akabá whence probably | |the Oyos of the north, |
| |the History’s name, | |stirred up a useless |
| |“Weebai-gah.” His | |war. He was a great |
| |strong names are: 1. He| |conqueror; but the |
| |flung a cutlass, and | |names of few of his |
| |the owner of the | |conquests have come |
| |country resigned to him| |down to us, the |
| |his lands (alluding to | |principal being Jegbe, |
| |his throwing a sword at| |or Jigbe, in “Weme,” |
| |Yag- haze, the | |near the Nohwe Lagoon, |
| |conquered King of | |the “Denham Waters” of |
| |Weme). 2. A big club, | |our charts. |
| |as he is, he will break| | |
| |down all the | |According to others, |
| |surrounding thorns. 3. | |Weme, the Weemy of the |
| |He was not before | |History, is near Grand |
| |death, or he would not | |Popo. Some, again, make|
| |have allowed it. | |it part of “Porto |
| | | |Novo.” It has long ago |
| | | |been “broken”; but a |
| | | |few people, it is said,|
| | | |still linger there. |
| | | | |
| | | |Akaba, the last of the |
| | | |pre-historic kings, |
| | | |reigned about 28 years.|
| | | |After his death “it was|
| | | |that, by the assistance|
| | | |of writing, each |
| | | |transient fact was |
| | | |fixed, and scattered |
| | | |information collected |
| | | |into a body; it was |
| | | |then that tradition |
| | | |gave place to record, |
| | | |and legend to history.”|
| | | | |
| 4. |Natural name Agaja, | 1708. |This warrior and |
| |which is part of a | |conqueror, who may be |
| |sentence, meaning, “A | |called Agaja the Great,|
| |branching tree (_i.e._,| |is said also to have |
| |one that meets you in | |usurped the throne. He |
| |all directions) must be| |began by subduing |
| |lopped before it is | |countries to the north-|
| |thrown into the fire.” | |west of Dahome, |
| |The History calls him | |especially Didouma and |
| |“Guadja Trudo”: the | |Povey, names now |
| |latter word is a | |unknown. Being refused,|
| |“strong name,” | |by Allada and Whydah a |
| |signifying “dashing” | |passage to the coast, |
| |(_i.e._, throwing large| |he captured the former |
| |presents to people). | |and slew the king, in |
| |Mr. Bulfinch Lambe’s | |1724. He carried to |
| |surname, Trudo | |Agbome Mr. Bulfinch |
| |“_Audati_” is quite | |Lambe, whose letter |
| |unknown to the heralds.| |from his palace bears |
| |Commander Forbes | |date November 27 of |
| |writes, with usual | |that year. He then |
| |cacography, Agah-jah- | |received the submission|
| |dooso. The latter word | |and tribute of “Jaquin”|
| |is “Dosu,” a name | |(Jackin, or Jakin,) a |
| |universally given in | |little maritime |
| |Dahome to a boy born | |country, west of |
| |after twins. The fourth| |Whydah. He defeated, by|
| |king’s principal strong| |stratagem, an army of |
| |name is: 1. “Dosu asks | |Oyos, and appeased |
| |to see, and then takes | |their king by many |
| |by force from the | |presents. In February- |
| |owner.” He is the first| |March, 1727, he took |
| |king whose mother’s | |Savi, capital of Whydah|
| |name—Addono—is known, | |(Chapter V.) with |
| |and who claims funereal| |terrible bloodshed, and|
| |rites and sacrifices. | |sacrificed 4000 |
| | | |prisoners. He carried |
| | | |up to Allada forty |
| | | |white men, whom he |
| | | |treated civilly; and in|
| | | |April, 1727, he was |
| | | |visited by Capt. |
| | | |Snelgrave (Catherine |
| | | |galley), who published |
| | | |his observations (“A |
| | | |Full Account of Some |
| | | |Parts of Guinea, and of|
| | | |the Slave Trade,” 8vo),|
| | | |describing the king as |
| | | |“the most extraordinary|
| | | |man of his colour that |
| | | |he had ever conversed |
| | | |with.” |
| | | | |
| | | |After this Agaja turned|
| | | |his attention to the |
| | | |“Tuffoes” (Toffos), who|
| | | |had insulted him, |
| | | |conquered them with |
| | | |3000 regulars, and |
| | | |sacrificed 400 |
| | | |prisoners, much as is |
| | | |done now. In 1728, the |
| | | |Whydahs, under a |
| | | |captain called “Ossue” |
| | | |(Fosu?) attempted a |
| | | |return to their |
| | | |country, and were |
| | | |protected by Governor |
| | | |Wilson, of the English |
| | | |fort. The perfidy of |
| | | |the French Governor |
| | | |caused his fort to be |
| | | |blown up, and |
| | | |subsequently his death.|
| | | |The Whydahs brought |
| | | |down another army of |
| | | |Oyos, which, after |
| | | |doing great damage, |
| | | |departed. About August,|
| | | |1729, the Whydahs, |
| | | |under their king, |
| | | |returned to their old |
| | | |settlement, and were |
| | | |protected by the forts.|
| | | |Agaja, having few men, |
| | | |raised the first |
| | | |Amazons (Chapter XV.), |
| | | |beat Ossue, and drove |
| | | |the king into the |
| | | |English fort. Agaja |
| | | |caused Mr. Testesole, |
| | | |the English Governor, |
| | | |who had grossly |
| | | |insulted him, to be |
| | | |barbarously murdered. |
| | | | |
| | | |Having married one of |
| | | |the daughters of the |
| | | |king of Oyo, Agaja |
| | | |signally defeated the |
| | | |Makhis, who had aided |
| | | |his late enemies. The |
| | | |small coast countries, |
| | | |Weme, Jakin, and Akpa |
| | | |(Appah), were driven by|
| | | |fear to revolt, and |
| | | |were supported by the |
| | | |Dutch Governor, Mynheer|
| | | |Hertog. In March 22, |
| | | |1731-2, an able Dahoman|
| | | |general, with 15,000 |
| | | |men, made the second |
| | | |conquest of Jakin, |
| | | |which he surprised: the|
| | | |king and M. Hertog |
| | | |escaping with |
| | | |difficulty to Akpa. He |
| | | |rifled the European |
| | | |factories, and ordered |
| | | |the offending white men|
| | | |to march on foot to |
| | | |Allada, where, however,|
| | | |he treated them kindly.|
| | | | |
| | | |Agaja the Conqueror was|
| | | |a Scourge of God: the |
| | | |chief object of his |
| | | |wars was conquest, not |
| | | |consolidation; skulls, |
| | | |not men; extermination,|
| | | |not accretion; and this|
| | | |fatal policy he |
| | | |bequeathed to Dahome. |
| | | |After a reign of 19 |
| | | |years, he died in 1727,|
| | | |aged 45. |
| | | | |
| 5. |The natural name of the| 1727. |Tegbwesun succeeded his|
| |second historic king is| |father, to the |
| |Tegbwesun, which | |prejudice of his eldest|
| |belongs to the | |brother, Zingah, whom |
| |mysteries of the Bo- | |he threw into the sea, |
| |Fetish, and, as often | |it not being lawful to |
| |happens, begins a | |shed royal blood. After|
| |phrase: Tegbwesun Au, | |seeing his enormous |
| |or avo, (cloth), agbo | |cruelties, the Meu, or |
| |(the wild bull), ko | |second minister, |
| |(neck), kron- kron-gro | |rebelled in 1735, but |
| |(no one can take it | |was crushed and slain |
| |off). The History, | |by the Gau, or |
| |followed by modern | |Commander-in-chief, and|
| |popular writers, calls | |the rebel’s younger |
| |him “Bossa Ahadi,” an | |brother was appointed |
| |appellation now | |in his stead. The Oyos |
| |completely unknown to | |attacked him in 1738, |
| |the heralds. His strong| |and invested Agbome. |
| |names are: 1. He is | |Tegbwesun fled twenty- |
| |like the hoe handle, he| |five miles to Zaffa (a |
| |will break the legs of | |name now unknown), and |
| |all nations. 2. The | |met Mr. Gregory of the |
| |truth of another man’s | |British fort, Whydah, |
| |wife is not doubted. A | |who accompanied him to |
| |thing in his hand shall| |a hiding-place. The |
| |never be taken by any | |Gau, hearing that his |
| |other person. The | |master was in safety, |
| |mother of this king was| |evacuated Agbome, |
| |named Chai. | |which, as well as Kana,|
| | | |was plundered and |
| | | |burnt. The Oyos |
| | | |returned, and their |
| | | |general was disgraced |
| | | |for not capturing the |
| | | |enemy’s king. They |
| | | |plundered Dahome every |
| | | |year till 1747, when |
| | | |the King agreed to pay |
| | | |them, in November, at |
| | | |Kana, an annual |
| | | |tribute, which lasted |
| | | |till the days of Gezo. |
| | | |In 1750, King Akwasi, |
| | | |of Komasi, crossed the |
| | | |Volta to punish Dahome,|
| | | |and was defeated. |
| | | |Tegbwesun began a war |
| | | |of conquest against the|
| | | |Makhis in 1737: in 1752|
| | | |his general took the |
| | | |stronghold called |
| | | |Boagry (Bowule?), with |
| | | |great bloodshed, but |
| | | |the war continued, the |
| | | |King being also engaged|
| | | |with the old Whydahs |
| | | |and Popos. In 1764 he |
| | | |again attacked the |
| | | |Boagry mountain, and |
| | | |sent the Meu to |
| | | |supersede the Gau, who |
| | | |at once fled to the |
| | | |Makhis. The Meu was |
| | | |defeated; Jupera, the |
| | | |King’s favourite son, |
| | | |died; and Tegbwesun |
| | | |made peace with the |
| | | |enemy in 1772. |
| | | | |
| | | |The Whydahs ever strove|
| | | |to return to their own,|
| | | |and still crowned their|
| | | |kings at the old |
| | | |capital, Savi (Chapter |
| | | |V.) In 1774 Tegbwesun |
| | | |supported a younger |
| | | |brother of the exiled |
| | | |royal family, who |
| | | |murdered the rightful |
| | | |heir, and devoured his |
| | | |heart, afterwards dying|
| | | |miserably of leprosy. |
| | | |Five or six hundred |
| | | |Whydahs had settled |
| | | |under the protection of|
| | | |Sr. João Bassile, of |
| | | |the Portuguese fort. |
| | | |This gentleman was |
| | | |invited to Agbome, and |
| | | |arrested on the road by|
| | | |the Gau, whose army, |
| | | |marching to exterminate|
| | | |the Whydahs, encamped |
| | | |on “Gonnegee” (Agonji, |
| | | |Chapter III.), to cut |
| | | |off their retreat. The |
| | | |Gau extorted money from|
| | | |Sr. Bassile, till a |
| | | |negro servant in charge|
| | | |of the fort told him |
| | | |that he was being |
| | | |deceived, and warned |
| | | |the Whydahs to defend |
| | | |themselves to the last.|
| | | |The Gau attacked the |
| | | |Portuguese fort, |
| | | |November 1, 1741, |
| | | |entered it after great |
| | | |loss, and put all to |
| | | |the sword. The |
| | | |Governor’s servant blew|
| | | |himself up, and his |
| | | |second in command was |
| | | |roasted over a slow |
| | | |fire at Kana. Tegbwesun|
| | | |set Sr. Bassile at |
| | | |liberty, rebuilt the |
| | | |fort, and disavowed the|
| | | |acts of his general. |
| | | | |
| | | |The treachery of a |
| | | |woman led the Dahomans |
| | | |to Jakin, whose people |
| | | |they extirpated. In |
| | | |1777, Sin-men-kpen |
| | | |(Adahoonzou II.) re- |
| | | |established a few |
| | | |families there. |
| | | | |
| | | |In 1743, the Whydahs |
| | | |and Popos attacked |
| | | |Whydah with a large |
| | | |host. The Gau was |
| | | |engaged with the Oyos |
| | | |and Makis: the post, |
| | | |however, was valiantly |
| | | |defended by the Kakawo |
| | | |(Caukaow), or local |
| | | |general, by the Yevogan|
| | | |or Viceroy—these two |
| | | |were slain—and by the |
| | | |Savi caboceers. The |
| | | |victorious Whydahs |
| | | |invested and starved |
| | | |the forts, when the |
| | | |King, recalling the |
| | | |Gau, sent him with |
| | | |50,000 men, and easily |
| | | |drove out the enemy. |
| | | | |
| | | |Tegbwesun appointed, as|
| | | |Yevogan of Whydah, a |
| | | |wealthy eunuch named |
| | | |Tanga. This man, |
| | | |resolving to be King, |
| | | |attempted, in August, |
| | | |1745, to seize |
| | | |William’s Fort. Mr. |
| | | |Gregory, however, |
| | | |resisted, and the rebel|
| | | |fortified his own |
| | | |house. Warned by his |
| | | |priests that his safety|
| | | |depended upon reaching |
| | | |the English fort, he |
| | | |collected his men, and |
| | | |all his hundreds of |
| | | |wives, to whom he had |
| | | |been “not the rigid |
| | | |jailor, nor the |
| | | |tyrannic usurper of |
| | | |their affections, but |
| | | |the generous arbiter of|
| | | |their liveliest |
| | | |pleasures,” cut one |
| | | |another’s throats. The |
| | | |house then was set on |
| | | |fire: Tanga sallied |
| | | |out, and was at once |
| | | |shot. |
| | | | |
| | | |Shampo, a brother-in- |
| | | |law of Tegbwesun, |
| | | |became the object of |
| | | |his King’s jealousy, |
| | | |and warned by his |
| | | |sister (who sent a |
| | | |knife and noosed cord |
| | | |concealed in victuals),|
| | | |he fled to Popo, and |
| | | |commanded their army |
| | | |till his death, in |
| | | |1767. The old Gau, who |
| | | |had long and faithfully|
| | | |served the King, was |
| | | |disgraced under the |
| | | |suspicion that he |
| | | |meditated desertion to |
| | | |the Makhis, and was |
| | | |cruelly killed- half |
| | | |beheaded and then |
| | | |strangled. |
| | | | |
| | | |In 1753, Tegbwesun sent|
| | | |another army to reduce |
| | | |the Whydahs and Popos. |
| | | |Shampo drew them on, |
| | | |and, entrapping them in|
| | | |the lagoons, slew all, |
| | | |at a place called |
| | | |Griji, but twenty-four,|
| | | |whom he sent as |
| | | |messengers to the King.|
| | | |Tegbwesun put the |
| | | |survivors to death, |
| | | |with a message to their|
| | | |comrades that he much |
| | | |disapproved of their |
| | | |conduct in war. |
| | | | |
| | | |In 1762, M. Caillié, |
| | | |the French Governor, |
| | | |Whydah, was charged |
| | | |with selling contraband|
| | | |of war to the enemies |
| | | |of Dahome, and was |
| | | |expelled the kingdom. |
| | | | |
| | | |In 1763, the Popos and |
| | | |Whydahs, under Affurey |
| | | |(Fori), son of Shampo, |
| | | |again attacked Whydah |
| | | |(see Chapter IV.) They |
| | | |were defeated by the |
| | | |energy of Mr. Goodson, |
| | | |who, under the name of |
| | | |“Ajangan,” is |
| | | |remembered by the royal|
| | | |family of Dahome to |
| | | |this day. |
| | | | |
| | | |In 1772, Mr. Robert |
| | | |Norris, Governor of |
| | | |William’s Fort, Whydah,|
| | | |visited the King at |
| | | |Agbome, and, like Mr. |
| | | |Archibald Dalzel, in |
| | | |1766, he was hospitably|
| | | |received. The published|
| | | |account is very |
| | | |interesting, showing |
| | | |how little changed is |
| | | |the complicated Dahoman|
| | | |ceremony during the |
| | | |last century. |
| | | | |
| | | |Tegbwesun died, 70 |
| | | |years old, on May 17, |
| | | |1774, after a long |
| | | |reign of 47 years. He |
| | | |was the terror of his |
| | | |subjects, but a friend |
| | | |to white men. His |
| | | |palace still exists |
| | | |(Chapter XVIII.) in a |
| | | |place outside Agbome, |
| | | |known as Adan- do-kpo- |
| | | |ji Daho. |
| | | | |
| 6. |The natural names are | 1774. |Sin-men-kpen at once |
| |two: Sinmenkpen, the | |determined to support |
| |rock in the water—Sín | |Eyee, “the monkey,” a |
| |(water), men (in), and | |Whydah chief, who was |
| |kpen (a stone)—and | |contending for the |
| |Kpengăla, from Kpen, a | |government against |
| |rock, and gălá, strong | |Abavou (Agbaba’vun), or|
| |or brave. His strong | |the Swampdog, the son |
| |names are: 1. He is not| |of the prince who ate |
| |to give in to anybody, | |his brother’s heart. |
| |as the sellers do to | |“Abavou,” after a stout|
| |the buyers. 2. The | |defence, delivered |
| |seller of hoes never | |himself to Dahome as a |
| |puts some into the | |peace-offering for his |
| |buyers. | |men, and was duly |
| | | |beheaded, his calvaria |
| |The History calls him | |being mummified and |
| |Adahoonzou II. It is | |preserved with all |
| |clear, however, from p.| |honour. |
| |133, that Adan-hun-zo | | |
| |was the princely, and | |Upon this, the King, at|
| |not the royal name. It | |the instigation of the |
| |mentions two of his | |Meu, the “Cokee” and |
| |“titles”: 1, Ai-yaw- | |the “Tovey” (the latter|
| |soo, or the male | |two names and offices |
| |oyster, probably from | |now unknown), disgraced|
| |being hard to crack | |his Yevogan, slapped |
| |(this is some old | |his face, and sent him |
| |Whydah word, which in | |to a state prison, |
| |modern Ffon would be | |whence he never |
| |Adankpwen ’su); and, 2,| |emerged. Mr. Lionel |
| |Yee ma sa hoo beate | |Abson, the English |
| |cofru gloh, “an | |Governor, tried to save|
| |elephant cannot shelter| |him, but unfortunately |
| |himself under the | |used finesse. The King |
| |swish-baskets” (in a | |heard of it, and told |
| |dialect which I am | |his visitor, “I wish |
| |unable to determine). | |you had not been so |
| | | |much of a Dahoman-man |
| |The name of this King’s| |as to have made use of |
| |mother is Hunájile. | |any artifice.” |
| | | | |
| | | |In 1775, the King |
| | | |attacked the |
| | | |“Sarrachees” (Siráchí, |
| | | |a Nago or Aku tribe, |
| | | |mixed with the Makhi), |
| | | |who seized his So-gan, |
| | | |or Captain of Horse |
| | | |commanding the rear. |
| | | |This brave man, when |
| | | |pressed to return, |
| | | |refused, sent a message|
| | | |to thank the King, and |
| | | |fell upon his sword. |
| | | |The Sarrachees defeated|
| | | |the Gau, when the |
| | | |command was given to |
| | | |the Po-su, or second |
| | | |general, who was beaten|
| | | |and killed. In 1777, |
| | | |the King sent a large |
| | | |army, under the Gau, |
| | | |who conquered the |
| | | |enemy, and barbarously |
| | | |ravaged the country. |
| | | | |
| | | |In 1778, the King of |
| | | |Allada agreed to attack|
| | | |Appee (Appi Vista) by |
| | | |water, and Dahome to |
| | | |assault by land. The |
| | | |latter had four |
| | | |divisions, led by the |
| | | |Gau, the Po-su, the |
| | | |“Zoheinoo” (Zokenu, the|
| | | |Amazon deputy Mingan, |
| | | |or grand |
| | | |executioneress) and the|
| | | |“Phussupoh” (Fosupo, |
| | | |now the Amazon deputy |
| | | |Meu, but in the days of|
| | | |the History a man |
| | | |officer). Hooroo, an |
| | | |Apee chief, with 800 |
| | | |men, attacked them in |
| | | |the swamp, killed in |
| | | |single combat a Dahoman|
| | | |Captain, Allopwee, and |
| | | |fought till he and his |
| | | |party fell to a man. |
| | | |The victors took 500 |
| | | |male adults, besides |
| | | |women, children, and |
| | | |much booty. The Apees |
| | | |left their King at |
| | | |“Weme,” which was |
| | | |friendly with Oyo, |
| | | |attacked the Alladas, |
| | | |forcing their way |
| | | |through them, and fell |
| | | |upon the Dahoman rear. |
| | | |All the Apees were |
| | | |slain at the next |
| | | |year’s Customs, and |
| | | |five women were |
| | | |barbarously murdered |
| | | |for endeavouring to |
| | | |escape. The King stood |
| | | |over the executioners, |
| | | |who were the women of |
| | | |his palace, instructing|
| | | |them, “not that |
| | | |way—hold your cutlass |
| | | |thus—give it me—’tis so|
| | | |(moen dé, a favourite |
| | | |phrase)—imagine you are|
| | | |chopping wood!” &c. |
| | | | |
| | | |The King then gave each|
| | | |caboceer a string, |
| | | |measuring ten yards, |
| | | |the intended width of |
| | | |road from his capital |
| | | |to the beach. He cut |
| | | |through the Agrime |
| | | |swamp, filled up |
| | | |gullies, and widened |
| | | |the hurdle bridges. |
| | | |Traces of this |
| | | |enlightened labour |
| | | |remain to the present |
| | | |day; Commander Forbes |
| | | |has called this King |
| | | |the Macadam of Africa. |
| | | | |
| | | |In 1781, after the |
| | | |death of the wealthy |
| | | |old Meu, the Oyos |
| | | |demanded, as tribute, |
| | | |100 of his women. Sin- |
| | | |men-kpen sent his |
| | | |Kakawo to collect them |
| | | |in the Agunah country, |
| | | |and this officer being |
| | | |slain, he marched in |
| | | |person at the head of |
| | | |800 women. The people |
| | | |fled to Sirachi, but |
| | | |their caves were smoked|
| | | |by fires strewed with |
| | | |pepper, till the two |
| | | |Kings and 1800 subjects|
| | | |surrendered. He of |
| | | |Agunah died on the |
| | | |march. “Sirachi” was |
| | | |thrown from the |
| | | |platform in the normal |
| | | |basket, “tied like a |
| | | |hog.” The year 1782 |
| | | |concluded with a famine|
| | | |and great mortality. |
| | | | |
| | | |In 1783, after a little|
| | | |raid of the Dahomans |
| | | |upon the Badagry beach,|
| | | |Sin-men-kpen sent his |
| | | |Gau, who fell into an |
| | | |ambuscade, and escaped |
| | | |with difficulty, losing|
| | | |the Po-su. The Alladas |
| | | |acted treacherously, |
| | | |and one of the rival |
| | | |chiefs of Badagry, Onum|
| | | |(“son of Prince Davee”)|
| | | |(the other, Ginguem, |
| | | |having been banished by|
| | | |his subjects to Bahia),|
| | | |sent, through the |
| | | |Governor of William’s |
| | | |Fort, Whydah, a long |
| | | |letter to the King, |
| | | |accusing his allies. |
| | | |Sin-men-kpen replied, |
| | | |“My name is Deddi ma |
| | | |tronu” (“Déddé” is |
| | | |slowly; the other words|
| | | |are not intelligible), |
| | | |meaning, “I am easy in |
| | | |my pace, but always in |
| | | |pursuit; let Ardrah |
| | | |take care of his own |
| | | |country.” |
| | | | |
| | | |In 1784, the King, |
| | | |joined by Makhis and |
| | | |Nagos, with guides from|
| | | |Oyo, to which country |
| | | |he promised to send his|
| | | |prisoners, and |
| | | |reinforced by an |
| | | |alliance with the chief|
| | | |of Lagos, attacked |
| | | |Badagry. Prince Davee |
| | | |and his generals, the |
| | | |Oclah and the Po-su, |
| | | |sallied out: the two |
| | | |former were killed, the|
| | | |latter was wounded, and|
| | | |5000 heads were sold by|
| | | |the Dahoman troops to |
| | | |their King. The Fosupo |
| | | |and Po-su of Dahome |
| | | |went in quest of the |
| | | |enemy’s women, who had |
| | | |fled towards Lagos, and|
| | | |the Alladas duped the |
| | | |victors by plundering |
| | | |the place. The Oyos, |
| | | |also, had a plan of |
| | | |carrying off the |
| | | |Dahomans and their |
| | | |spoil, but they were |
| | | |baffled. The Fosupo, |
| | | |having failed to take |
| | | |the Badagrian women, |
| | | |wiped out the disgrace |
| | | |by applying a loaded |
| | | |pistol to his mouth. |
| | | |The Customs of 1785 |
| | | |were very grand, and as|
| | | |127 skulls were wanted |
| | | |to complete the |
| | | |decoration of the |
| | | |palace wall, as many |
| | | |people were killed in |
| | | |cold blood. |
| | | | |
| | | |In May, 1786, Weme, |
| | | |which had offended Oyo,|
| | | |was attacked by Dahome,|
| | | |and by 100 Makhi |
| | | |caboceers, with their |
| | | |trains: it was utterly |
| | | |destroyed. |
| | | | |
| | | |By the King’s order, |
| | | |the “Coki,” or second |
| | | |caboceer of Whydah (a |
| | | |name now unknown), and |
| | | |the Kakawo, with 300 |
| | | |soldiers, kidnapped |
| | | |from the “Porto Novo” |
| | | |beach fourteen |
| | | |Frenchmen, one |
| | | |Portuguese, and eighty |
| | | |Gold Coast canoemen. |
| | | |They were ransomed by |
| | | |M. Gourg, Governor of |
| | | |the French fort, |
| | | |Whydah, for £4,600. The|
| | | |King of Allada |
| | | |complained of this |
| | | |outrage to him of Oyo, |
| | | |and the latter sent to |
| | | |Sin-men-kpen, that |
| | | |“Ardrah was Oyo’s |
| | | |calabash, out of which |
| | | |nobody should be |
| | | |permitted to eat but |
| | | |himself.” The Dahomans |
| | | |were greatly alarmed, |
| | | |but presently they |
| | | |attacked the old |
| | | |Whydahs, and carried |
| | | |off a few baskets of |
| | | |salt. |
| | | | |
| | | |In 1788, the King |
| | | |attacked “Croo-too- |
| | | |hoon-too” (supposed to |
| | | |be near Toffo and the |
| | | |Aizoh people, Chapter |
| | | |XXIV.), but the Gau and|
| | | |the Po-su were |
| | | |repulsed. The victors |
| | | |sent five caboceers to |
| | | |beg pardon, and to |
| | | |offer a tribute, which |
| | | |was accepted. The Gau, |
| | | |however, secretly |
| | | |followed them home, and|
| | | |put all the people to |
| | | |the sword. |
| | | | |
| | | |Shortly after this, |
| | | |Agbome and Kana were |
| | | |visited by an |
| | | |earthquake, which shook|
| | | |down part of the palace|
| | | |walls, and extended to |
| | | |Agunah and other |
| | | |places. The King |
| | | |applied for an |
| | | |explanation to the |
| | | |Europeans, who improved|
| | | |to little purpose the |
| | | |occasion, by preaching |
| | | |him. After this we do |
| | | |not hear of an |
| | | |earthquake visiting |
| | | |Agbome till July 10, |
| | | |1862, when the shock, |
| | | |so fatal to the eastern|
| | | |Gold Coast, startled |
| | | |the present King |
| | | |(Chapter XIV.) |
| | | | |
| | | |In the next year, Sin- |
| | | |men-kpen marched out |
| | | |with six divisions, |
| | | |feinting at Popo, and |
| | | |falling upon the large |
| | | |town of Katoo (Iketu), |
| | | |he butchered the |
| | | |inhabitants, and |
| | | |carried off 2000 |
| | | |slaves. |
| | | | |
| | | |The sixth King died of |
| | | |small-pox, April 17, |
| | | |1789, after a warlike |
| | | |reign of 15 years. I |
| | | |have alluded to “Lize- |
| | | |hun-zo House,” his |
| | | |palace, in Chapter |
| | | |XVIII. The History |
| | | |mentions one called |
| | | |Gree ma zon baw (Gree, |
| | | |field; má, not; zon, |
| | | |send; ’gbo, goat)—You |
| | | |do not give a goat a |
| | | |plantation to sow corn |
| | | |in (because he eats it |
| | | |all), or, You do not |
| | | |send a goat to make a |
| | | |plantation. At Sin-men-|
| | | |kpen’s death, 595 women|
| | | |were slaughtered by |
| | | |their companions, |
| | | |according to the common|
| | | |usage of the palace. |
| | | | |
| 7. |The grandfather of the | 1789. |Agongoro, the son of |
| |reigning sovereign | |Sin-men-kpen, had three|
| |bears the “natural | |rivals, two of them his|
| |name” of Agon-goro, | |own uncles, but he soon|
| |pronounced Agongro, or | |won the day. He began |
| |Agonglo: the derivation| |well, reducing the |
| |is Agon, the Palmyra | |intolerable imposts, |
| |tree, which is never | |enlisting his tax |
| |lightning-struck, and | |gatherers, and visiting|
| |whose leaves are | |his Mingan—a mark of |
| |therefore used for | |extreme condescension. |
| |fetish, and Goro, | |Nor was he less pious: |
| |cannot be beaten, | |on his first visit to |
| |_i.e._, by thunder. His| |his sire’s tomb, he was|
| |strong names are: 1. | |accompanied by forty- |
| |Thunder never misses | |eight men, who were |
| |the tree it aims at. 2.| |slain from time to |
| |A hungry man never eats| |time, that he might |
| |earth, but only food; | |“walk in blood all the |
| |so the surrounding | |way from Kana to |
| |people, being his food,| |Agbome, to see his |
| |he will not leave them.| |father.” He determined |
| |3. All nations must sit| |to follow in the path |
| |down, and not attempt | |of Tegbwesun, and to |
| |to attack Dahome. | |repress the seraglio |
| | | |disorders, which had |
| |The History calls him | |disgraced the last |
| |“Wheenoohew” (Weenohoo,| |reign; and finally he |
| |according to Commander | |“cautioned all to avoid|
| |Forbes), a name | |getting into scrapes |
| |completely | |with him, since, if |
| |unintelligible to the | |they did, they would be|
| |people. It also | |sure to repent of it, |
| |mentions a title, Se- | |for he knew nobody, nor|
| |do-zaw, “Wherever I | |was he inclined to make|
| |rub, I leave my scent.”| |any new acquaintances.”|
| | | | |
| |The mother of this king| |In 1790, Agongoro |
| |was called Senume. | |attacked Baigee |
| | | |(Gbweji, a place in |
| | | |Makhi), the result |
| | | |being the death of the |
| | | |Gau, by sickness, and a|
| | | |few victims for the |
| | | |paternal grave. He shed|
| | | |tears when told that |
| | | |the King of Allada had |
| | | |made a feast to |
| | | |celebrate his father’s |
| | | |death, but on account |
| | | |of the Oyos he dared |
| | | |not attack that |
| | | |injurious prince. The |
| | | |army was again sent |
| | | |against the Makhis, |
| | | |under a new Gau, who, |
| | | |failing, was ordered to|
| | | |attack the Whydahs. A |
| | | |third unsuccessful |
| | | |expedition threatened a|
| | | |famine, and Agongoro is|
| | | |known in history as one|
| | | |of the most unfortunate|
| | | |of Dahoman monarchs. |
| | | | |
| | | |Presently, 300 |
| | | |prisoners, and |
| | | |afterwards 170 Makhi |
| | | |captives, were brought |
| | | |in to fill Sin-men- |
| | | |kpen’s grave, and a |
| | | |Makhi country near |
| | | |Iketu supplied 1000 |
| | | |victims for the |
| | | |approaching Grand |
| | | |Customs, which take |
| | | |place only after the |
| | | |death of a King. |
| | | | |
| | | |M. Gourg, the French |
| | | |Governor at Whydah, |
| | | |presently made himself |
| | | |obnoxious. He was |
| | | |seized, bound, and |
| | | |exposed on the beach, |
| | | |till a canoe could be |
| | | |found to carry him |
| | | |through the heavy surf.|
| | | |He died on board the |
| | | |ship Rouen, _en route_ |
| | | |towards Cape François. |
| | | | |
| | | |In January, February, |
| | | |and March, 1791, took |
| | | |place the Grand |
| | | |Customs, at the |
| | | |capital. Captain Fayrer|
| | | |and Mr. Hogg, Governor |
| | | |of Apollonia, were |
| | | |present, and both |
| | | |affirm that not fewer |
| | | |than 500 men, women, |
| | | |and children, were |
| | | |victimized. |
| | | | |
| | | |Dr. M‘Leod’s Voyage to |
| | | |Africa so confuses |
| | | |dates and documents |
| | | |between 1803, the year |
| | | |of his visiting Dahome,|
| | | |and 1820, that it is |
| | | |impossible to make out |
| | | |from his pages the date|
| | | |of Agongoro’s demise. |
| | | |He says, “an instance |
| | | |of this sort (_i.e._, |
| | | |setting aside the |
| | | |eldest son and heir) |
| | | |occurred, however, at |
| | | |the demise of the late |
| | | |King, Wheenoohew |
| | | |(Agongoro), when the |
| | | |eldest son’s right of |
| | | |primogeniture, was |
| | | |disallowed, because one|
| | | |of his toes, from some |
| | | |accident, overlapped |
| | | |the other (Commander |
| | | |Forbes calls it a club-|
| | | |foot); and his next |
| | | |brother, the present |
| | | |King, who, with respect|
| | | |to form, is certainly |
| | | |‘a marvellous proper |
| | | |man,’ was elected in |
| | | |his stead.” |
| | | | |
| | | |This seems to point to |
| | | |King Gezo, but as I |
| | | |have stated, Dr. |
| | | |M‘Leod, though |
| | | |repeatedly alluding to |
| | | |the reigning monarch, |
| | | |never quotes his name. |
| | | |Captain John Adams |
| | | |(Remarks on the Country|
| | | |from Cape Palmas to the|
| | | |River Congo: Whittaker |
| | | |& Co., London, 1823) |
| | | |leaves us in equal |
| | | |ignorance, perhaps for |
| | | |the same reason, viz., |
| | | |that he did not know it|
| | | |himself. |
| | | | |
| 8. |Gezo, the father of the| 1818. |Gaze, being a man with |
| |ruling King, derived | |a peaceful character, |
| |his natural name from | |and afflicted with |
| |the initial word of a | |gibbosity, yielded his |
| |phrase, Gezo emasigbe, | |throne to a younger |
| |meaning Ge (a kind of | |brother, Gezo, who |
| |red bird, whose | |therefore was not, as |
| |feathers fire will not | |Commander Forbes stated|
| |burn), zo (fire, fiery,| |(Chapter I.), a |
| |red), e (he), másí (is | |usurper, and died in |
| |not afraid), gbe (of | |July 24, 1861. Another |
| |bush). His strong names| |brother, Adanzan, |
| |are: 1. A charm that | |raised, as is |
| |nothing in the world | |customary, a mutiny: he|
| |can withstand. 2. | |was put down, and |
| |Having killed the | |still, I believe, |
| |surrounding enemies, | |survives, a state |
| |the rest come to beg. | |prisoner. |
| |3. A leper is not | | |
| |embraced: he is like a | |According to Commander |
| |person with such | |Forbes, Gezo behaved |
| |sickness that no nation| |treacherously to |
| |will touch him. | |Achade, chief of the |
| | | |Republic of Jena (whom |
| |Some resident Europeans| |others call chief of |
| |believe that Atinglí is| |Leflefu). On the death |
| |also a royal name: it | |of Onsi, King of Jena, |
| |belonged to one of his | |the heir-apparent, |
| |headmen, and was also | |Dekon, being turned |
| |the beginning of a | |out, applied for aid to|
| |phrase, _e.g._, Atingli| |Dahome. Gezo, who had |
| |(a sharply cut stump), | |just got rid of his |
| |do (in the ground), | |brother, Adanzan, |
| |kuno (does not), sinden| |marched upon the town, |
| |(fear aught). | |which had become a |
| | | |Republic, with Achade |
| |Agontime was the mother| |as president. The |
| |of Gezo. | |Dahoman army was |
| | | |repulsed during three |
| | | |several years, for |
| | | |Gezo, unlike his son, |
| | | |had only an annual |
| | | |slave hunt. Gezo then |
| | | |made peace, and swore |
| | | |eternal friendship with|
| | | |his gallant foe, who |
| | | |was invited to be |
| | | |present at the Dahoman |
| | | |Customs, hostages being|
| | | |sent to him. After two |
| | | |years, Achade, |
| | | |neglecting all |
| | | |precautions, went to |
| | | |Agbome with nearly 1000|
| | | |traders. During the |
| | | |platform sacrifice, he |
| | | |was suddenly seized, |
| | | |thrown, and beheaded, |
| | | |his cranium being |
| | | |placed in a copper |
| | | |casing. Dekon, invited |
| | | |to Jena, went there, |
| | | |and was beheaded. The |
| | | |town was destroyed by |
| | | |the next annual slave |
| | | |hunt, and the survivors|
| | | |fled to Abeokuta. |
| | | | |
| | | |Finding the enemies of |
| | | |his race, the Oyos, in |
| | | |trouble with the Fulas |
| | | |and Hausas, who, in |
| | | |1825, destroyed |
| | | |Katunga, their capital,|
| | | |Gezo attacked them at |
| | | |Kana, and completely |
| | | |subdued them. The |
| | | |tribute was abolished, |
| | | |and most of the Oyos |
| | | |were enlisted into the |
| | | |King’s service. Gezo |
| | | |then pretended to |
| | | |attack Ashante, and in |
| | | |testimony of his |
| | | |conquest built the |
| | | |Komasi Palace. |
| | | | |
| | | |After many minor |
| | | |successes, the warlike |
| | | |King attacked, in 1840,|
| | | |the Attakpamwe, a |
| | | |people living to the |
| | | |west of Dahome: all |
| | | |except 400 men fled: |
| | | |these defended |
| | | |themselves bravely, but|
| | | |were soon overpowered |
| | | |by the Amazons. The |
| | | |latter was a favourite |
| | | |arm with Gezo, who |
| | | |often boasted that he |
| | | |had first organized it.|
| | | |It raised him high |
| | | |amongst the surrounding|
| | | |kings and chiefs, who |
| | | |declared an alliance |
| | | |with each other, and a |
| | | |determination to make a|
| | | |distaff of Gezo’s |
| | | |head—a declaration |
| | | |equivalent to a _casus |
| | | |belli_. About 1839 he |
| | | |attacked the Makhis, |
| | | |and broke, it is said, |
| | | |126 towns. Next year he|
| | | |fell upon the Nagos, |
| | | |who had ravaged his |
| | | |frontier, and signally |
| | | |punished them. |
| | | | |
| | | |In 1842, the King was |
| | | |visited by a coloured |
| | | |Wesleyan missionary, |
| | | |Rev. T. B. Freeman, who|
| | | |reported highly of |
| | | |Agbome and of its |
| | | |contents. |
| | | | |
| | | |During the life of |
| | | |Shodeke, chief of |
| | | |Abeokuta, there was |
| | | |friendship between the |
| | | |Dahoman and the Egba. |
| | | |When Sagbwa succeeded |
| | | |him, quarrels began—an |
| | | |Amazon corps was |
| | | |defeated at Ado, a |
| | | |frontier town, and lost|
| | | |its officers and |
| | | |umbrella. Gezo swore |
| | | |revenge. |
| | | | |
| | | |In 1848, a chief named |
| | | |Olikiki induced the |
| | | |King to attack Okeadon,|
| | | |some thirty miles |
| | | |north-west of Badagry. |
| | | |Gezo pretended to march|
| | | |on Abeokuta, fell back |
| | | |in the night, and was |
| | | |introduced by the |
| | | |traitor into the city. |
| | | |It is said that 20,000 |
| | | |Otas were seized and |
| | | |sold: there was no |
| | | |resistance: the sick |
| | | |and aged were slain, |
| | | |and many fugitives were|
| | | |drowned in the rapid |
| | | |river. |
| | | | |
| | | |In October, 1849, Gezo |
| | | |was visited by the late|
| | | |Commander Forbes and |
| | | |Mr. Vice-Consul Duncan,|
| | | |who had travelled |
| | | |through the country in |
| | | |1845-46. They were |
| | | |received at Agbome, |
| | | |with the usual |
| | | |ceremonies, by the |
| | | |King, who showed them |
| | | |the wooden model of a |
| | | |hill in the Makhi |
| | | |country, called Kenglo,|
| | | |which Commander Forbes |
| | | |writes “Kangaroo.” It |
| | | |was a strongly |
| | | |fortified site, and Mr.|
| | | |Duncan had previously |
| | | |complained to the King |
| | | |of having been insulted|
| | | |there. The place had |
| | | |been taken by the |
| | | |Amazons, and its very |
| | | |stones carried to |
| | | |Agbome (Chapter XVIII).|
| | | |On October 29, 1847, |
| | | |Commander Forbes sailed|
| | | |for Sierra Leone, and |
| | | |Mr. Duncan died on |
| | | |board H.M.S. |
| | | |Kingfisher. |
| | | | |
| | | |On May 14, 1851, |
| | | |Commander Forbes, |
| | | |accompanying the late |
| | | |Mr. Beecroft, H.M.’s |
| | | |Consul for the Bights, |
| | | |again landed, and |
| | | |proceeded to witness |
| | | |the Customs of Agbome. |
| | | |Their object was to |
| | | |estimate the King’s |
| | | |expenses, to offer him |
| | | |a compensation for |
| | | |abandoning the slave |
| | | |trade, and to dissuade |
| | | |Gezo from attacking |
| | | |Abeokuta. It is |
| | | |needless to say that |
| | | |they failed, and |
| | | |retired with scanty |
| | | |good will on both |
| | | |sides. |
| | | | |
| | | |On March 3, 1851, Gezo |
| | | |attacked Abeokuta with |
| | | |10,000 to 16,000 |
| | | |troops, men and women, |
| | | |the flower of his army.|
| | | |He was opposed by |
| | | |Ogubonna, the Egba |
| | | |Commander- in-chief, |
| | | |and after a hot |
| | | |contest, was beaten |
| | | |back, losing, chiefly |
| | | |during the flight, by a|
| | | |moderate computation, |
| | | |1,200 of his best |
| | | |fighters. He never |
| | | |recovered from this |
| | | |blow. |
| | | | |
| | | |In 1852, Gezo signed a |
| | | |treaty for the |
| | | |suppression of the |
| | | |slave trade, which was |
| | | |so much waste paper. He|
| | | |then turned towards the|
| | | |French interest, and |
| | | |was twice visited by M.|
| | | |Wallon, Lieutenant de |
| | | |Vaisseau, who escorted |
| | | |a present of two |
| | | |howitzers from the |
| | | |French Government, and |
| | | |carried with him two |
| | | |youths from the palace |
| | | |for education in |
| | | |France. |
| | | | |
| | | |In 1858, Gezo died, |
| | | |after a reign of 40 |
| | | |years, from the effects|
| | | |of virulent small-pox, |
| | | |leaving behind him a |
| | | |great name as a warrior|
| | | |and a king. He had |
| | | |greatly reduced human |
| | | |sacrifice, and had made|
| | | |his principal officers |
| | | |take the fetish oath to|
| | | |prevent the general |
| | | |massacre of woman in |
| | | |the palace. |
| | | | |
| 9. |The natural name is | 1858. |Gelele succeeded his |
| |Gelele, which begins a | |father at the age of |
| |sentence: Gelele má | |38, to the exclusion of|
| |nyonzi—“Bigness, with | |his eldest brother, |
| |no way of lifting.” Mr.| |“Godó,” who was, and is|
| |T. B. Freeman | |much addicted to drink.|
| |erroneously states it | |Other brothers gave him|
| |Glere, or Glery, the | |trouble, though he was |
| |jawbone. His strong | |expressly nominated for|
| |names are: 1. Tenge | |succession by Gezo, |
| |makanfenkpon: A rock, | |after the fashion at |
| |the finger-nail cannot | |Abeokuta. |
| |scratch it—behold! 2. | | |
| |Kini kini kini: Lion of| |For the first two years|
| |lions. 3. An animal | |he contented himself |
| |having cut its teeth, | |with warring down small|
| |evil has entered into | |chiefs, who are |
| |the bush (the bush | |mentioned in Chapter |
| |meaning the surrounding| |IX. Of these he has |
| |tribes, who feel the | |killed about forty. |
| |sharpness of Dahome’s | | |
| |tooth). 4. Ye mabu lo | |In July and August, |
| |sin men: Shadow is | |1860, the King |
| |never lost in water. | |performed the Grand |
| | | |Customs for his father,|
| |The King’s mother, who | |slaying, it is |
| |still lives, is called | |supposed, 2000 men, |
| |Zoindi. | |which number may |
| | | |readily be reduced to |
| | | |500. He destroyed |
| | | |Attako (Taccou), and |
| | | |slew Akia’on (Chapter |
| | | |IX.) |
| | | | |
| | | |Early in 1851, Gelele |
| | | |collected a large force|
| | | |to attack Abeokuta: |
| | | |small-pox broke out on |
| | | |the road, and he was |
| | | |compelled to return. |
| | | | |
| | | |On March 15th, 1862, |
| | | |the King fell suddenly,|
| | | |with 6000 men, upon |
| | | |Ishagga, a town |
| | | |containing about 5000 |
| | | |souls. It had behaved |
| | | |with consummate |
| | | |treachery to his |
| | | |father. He slew the |
| | | |chief, and carried off |
| | | |seventeen or eighteen |
| | | |native Christian |
| | | |converts and a |
| | | |Scripture reader—Mr. |
| | | |William Doherty, of |
| | | |Sierra Leone, and Mr. |
| | | |William Jones, with |
| | | |five men and three |
| | | |women, who were paraded|
| | | |to Whydah, and |
| | | |afterwards reported |
| | | |slain. About this |
| | | |point, however, there |
| | | |are many doubts. Mr. |
| | | |Doherty is said to have|
| | | |been crucified, with a |
| | | |nail passed through his|
| | | |head into a tree trunk,|
| | | |and holding an open |
| | | |umbrella _honoris |
| | | |causâ_. It is supposed |
| | | |that their death was |
| | | |hastened by the |
| | | |earthquake of July 10, |
| | | |which the King thought |
| | | |was the voice of his |
| | | |father calling for more|
| | | |victims. |
| | | | |
| | | |On March 15, 1863, |
| | | |Gelele attacked Igbara,|
| | | |a small Egbado town, |
| | | |and completely |
| | | |destroyed it, carrying |
| | | |off many captives. |
| | | | |
| | | |In December and |
| | | |January, 1862-63, the |
| | | |King was visited by |
| | | |Captain Wilmot, R.N., |
| | | |senior officer on the |
| | | |West Coast of Africa, |
| | | |Captain Luce, R.N., and|
| | | |Dr. Haran, H.M.S. |
| | | |Brisk, attended by the |
| | | |Rev. Peter W. Bernasko,|
| | | |native assistant |
| | | |missionary, Whydah. The|
| | | |officers were most |
| | | |courteously received, |
| | | |but effected nothing. |
| | | | |
| | | |On June, 1863, Gelele |
| | | |marched into the Makhi |
| | | |country with all his |
| | | |army, and after a short|
| | | |campaign, returned |
| | | |back, bearing a few |
| | | |captives. |
| | | | |
| | | |On March 15, 1864, the |
| | | |King attacked Abeokuta,|
| | | |and after a very poor |
| | | |affair, received an |
| | | |exemplary defeat |
| | | |(conclusion of my |
| | | |narrative), which will |
| | | |probably lead to the |
| | | |ruin of Dahome. |
+--------+-----------------------+-----------+-----------------------+
APPENDIX V.
DAHOMEY, ITS PEOPLE AND CUSTOMS.
The following letter has been received by the Duke of Wellington from
the celebrated lion-hunter, M. Jules Gerard:—
[_Times_, August 18, 1864.]
“Monsieur le Duc,—Your Grace is well aware that few men gain by being
seen close, unless they are men of intellect and merit. The King of
Dahomey, despite his cognomen, which signifies the ‘Eternal’ or the
‘Infinite,’[288] fully justifies that rule to which he is no exception.
Physically he is similar to the other blacks of his country—tall, well
built, a head like a bull dog. The most usual expression of his
countenance is that of cunning and cruelty.[289] His moral qualities are
in perfect keeping with his physical conformation; he is more gracious
than the Kings who have preceded him, fanatical for old traditions and
customs. The traditions of that microscopic court are to turn the whites
to the best possible account (_exploiter les blancs_), but especially to
induce them to make presents. It is the custom to excite the people with
sanguinary spectacles, so as to be able to carry off the neighbouring
population when a slave-dealer makes an offer to the King and also at
the annual custom of human sacrifices.
“I have just spent twenty days at Kana, where the King was staying for
the celebration of the lesser ceremonies. On the day of my presentation
I was conducted across the Market-place, where twelve corpses were
exposed to view on separate sites. Six were hung up by the feet, the six
others were upright, like men about to walk. Those whom I saw close were
horribly mutilated and not beheaded.[290] An enormous pool of blood
covered the ground beneath the scaffold, giving unmistakeable evidence
of previous sacrifices and of the tortures which accompanied them.[291]
Our reception by the King was brilliant, very cordial for myself as well
as for the French Consul[292]; but we were soon able to convince
ourselves that this was but a comedy always performed by this poor
Paladin to get the presents brought by the whites. Born and brought up
in the midst of these spectacles, which would be ridiculous if they were
not horrible, the present King is actually more fond of them than his
subjects. I saw him on that day admiring with the delight of a child the
grotesque dances and ridiculous pantomime of his ministers, and then of
the princes, and then of all present, for our amusement. A most infernal
music, which nearly deafened us, delighted the King, who seemed to be in
a state of ecstacy; and this, M. le Duc, lasted for six hours. On the
following day his Majesty invited us to witness a procession of the
King’s riches. On reaching the square of the Palace (read huts) an
agreeable surprise had been prepared for us. The entrance gate was
flooded by a pool of blood two yards in width, and on each side a column
of recently decapitated heads formed two immense chaplets. It is true
that on this day the King wore the emblem of Christ on his breast. It
must be presumed that it was the cross of execution that he meant to
imply by this ornament. As regards the procession of his wealth, it
consisted of a few old carriages, bath chairs carried by men with
figures like Polichinello. One thousand women carried each a bottle of
liquor on her head, a brass basin in the shape of a footbath to receive
the blood of the human victims on the day of the King’s banquet; an
image of the Virgin; various baskets-full of human skulls; an image of
St. Lawrence, as large as life, carried by blacks; finally the _drum of
death_.
“At another festival the King commanded on foot his Amazons, who
manœuvred with the precision of a flock of sheep. On the Market-place
already mentioned each step was ornamented by a dead body; and the King
came and went in the midst of pools of blood and fragments of human
flesh in a state of putrefaction. On this occasion he had daubed his
face with coal.[293] The ceremony terminated by a mad dance, in which
the King took part, dancing _vis-a-vis_ to drunken soldiers and
musicians. Such are, M. le Duc, the man, the Government, and the people
whom we have hitherto hoped to turn into a path less contrary to the
laws of humanity. I regret that Captain Burton should have arrived at
Kana just at the moment of the King’s departure, as he might have been
enabled to see and judge of all these things.
“I am, M. le Duc, your most obedient servant,
“JULES GERARD.
“P.S.—On the day of his departure the King invited us to a review of his
army prepared for war. It was from 12,000 to 14,000 strong, comprising
12,000 Amazons, 1000 men of the bodyguard, and 2000 archers.[294]”
N.B.—The letter is interesting, as giving the darkest view of things
Dahoman.—R. F. B.
THE END.
[Footnote 288: This is pure fancy.—R. F. B.]
[Footnote 289: I did not remark it.—R. F. B.]
[Footnote 290: The mutilation took place after death.—R. F. B.]
[Footnote 291: There had been no previous sacrifices, and no
tortures.—R. F. B.]
[Footnote 292: Others represented the contrary.—R. F. B.]
[Footnote 293: Read, “with three streaks of gunpowder.”—R. F. B.]
[Footnote 294: These are all numerical errors. M. Gerard probably means
1200 Amazons.—R. F. B.]
Printed for the Publishers at
THE MECCAN PRESS,
3, Soho Square, London, W.
Transcriber's note:
pg 13, footnote 16, Changed: "Joto is the ancester" to: "ancestor"
pg 17, footnote 24, Changed: "as infidels and athiests" to: "atheists"
pg 39, Changed: "snndry black hide shields like" to: "sundry"
pg 68, Changed: "und sundry of the caboceers" to: "and"
pg 82, Changed: "us that the cabocers were on" to: "caboceers"
pg 88, Changed: "even in the Hmite, a rise" to: "Hamite"
pg 90, Changed: "represent the idea of the philospher" to:
"philosopher"
pg 94, footnote 126, Changed: "can be ransomed f ten" to: "for"
pg 109, footnote 149, Changed: "every West Arican tongue testifies"
to: "African"
pg 113, Changed: "from a neigbouring water" to: "neighbouring"
pg 152, Added ” after: "_hommes par semaine_."
pg 162, Changed: "till we reathed a house built" to: "reached"
pg 166, Changed: "in fact, is is that of inner Yoruba" to:
"fact, is that"
pg 172, Changed: "neck, were the the principal ornaments" to:
"were the principal"
pg 172, footnote 240, Changed: "Years age Zangrony" to: "ago"
pg 174, Changed: "and began a a stale and dreary" to: "began a stale"
pg 183, Changed: "and of his deslre to perform" to: "desire"
pg 190, Changed: "sunset approached, the Bukn-no" to: "Buko-no"
pg 242, Changed: "cultivating the soll, than in" to: "soil"
pg 261, Changed: "such a limited suply of water" to: "supply"
pg 265, Changed: "VARIOUS EXPLOITS, THEIR “STRONG REIGNS,”" to:
"STRONG NAMES"
pg 284, Changed: "The Alladas acted treachereusly" to: "treacherously"
pg 296, Changed: "drowned in the rapid rlver" to: "river"
pg 297, Changed: "Gezo was visited hy the late" to: "by"
pg 304, Changed: "poor Paladin te get" to: "to"
Minor changes in punctuation have been done silently.