The Sun.
London, England, 1863-09-04 00:00:00

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Womentho oomk
ni,
were not expected to take more than the ;g-41,0
a
when a visitor had drunk out of a vessel he could iriard
to one of a number of attendants who were always near,
and who were glad to finish off the contents. While all
this toasting was going on, 31 guns were fired in honour of
the visit ; and when Mr. Craft returned to Whydah he had
31 guns fired by way of returning the compliment. After
this entertainment the party were conducted to the other
side of the palace, where the Amazons were dancing.
There were 200 or 300 young women thus engaged, and
Althoughtheywo m ednanme
must.
tsdht very
eo prettily,nbgeci
wasv e
rkyepmaking
tired
u paa
at night,
e day,r very graceful
andso
m tethe
eofiwg
youngut hr ee figures.
seemedng.
hmiadanonni
arnddentochfuutooei
rroxa
win":
manufacture.
uerutirdi
hi
ntaestee.
nie. as
Therefresh a
wass they h yl werealso
grand
r Navnhde n
reviewt ey
of beganthe
t
d
Amazonian regiment,
liveutiirrva-rhoensisoieac(igitmhucohiroatsnmpe,agttlararititunhchehioeSteustsudhesaragetntaoordbhnlodsoulauuaturottnrifaoidninmesssdi.alvecvanaretririrfliDefi‘ocinnicerseasi
uw.ohnieleen o fb
e theng
eKing's,Briantloylple.lwenttorhte3lh.
itewset ipropertyn
carrying
tthen
articlesbrought
ba forwardbackwards
w ards
m
brteoelorikgoifo
but
sold notor
pnaaimliteeppeynldliat.sce,aeena,inidtohdmoaspecimens of almost every kind of European
though
et
different
ffvtehi review
enntoofer
causes.
sstroops
hn
extent
tytohowakte
rhpeal adpeabereteiluny
partlyhe Kingdemonstrative of
power, quitean d partly black enough,
festive.
quite
children
ibdl
raeenk
werea as he e
nheavde been eensacrificed.painted.
When
ee
n sacrificesa num-
ber
un
d
omen and children were captured, they were either
dren w
he reesuanwd undisturbed
it
aurrgbee dn
u;
given to the soldiers and others as wives. The chit-
mthbeerstof children ofhf
other
rlffberent tribes.
and women and those that could nyotmthbeleenvmtwhu;
would buy
erenreedsotold
urthale tattoo
the women, if anybody
but the old men
marks, and almost every child he saw had a natural account were suffered up in sacrifice. pecuniaryaas
well
a 8
When he was at Da-
homey The tribes were distinguished from each o
The people of Dahomey thought it rather againstmtahreki;
dignity to tattoo themselves much,and had only tattoo marks
on the temple, but other tribes were tattoed very much, and
in avariety of patterns. The reason why they sold the young
men was that they considered it dangerous to have such a
strong antagonistic element in their midst. The King gave
him four boys for his friends and one for himself. The ages
of the boys varied from 9 to 12. They were captured by the
Bing in an expedition against a neighbouring tribe, and at
the same time he took a native missionary who had been
trained under the Church Missionary Society, and sent home
to teach his heathen brothers. The King of Dahomey, judg.
ing that this man was a native, and believing that he had
assumed the European garb for the purpose of deceiv..
ing him, thought it necessary to treat him with greater
severity than his other captives, and accordingly had
him crucified, But many of the chiefs expressed their
regret to Mr. Craft that this had occurred, and ex-
cused themselves by saying they did not know that
the poor man was under the protection of the English. The
boys whom the King presented to him he had given to his
friends, though, of course, they would not regard distil as
slaves, but would educate them and bring them up as British
subjects. In reference to the sacrifices, M. Jules Gerard.
made a mistake when he said that the King danced in pools
a human blood and fragments of human flesh. He was
there on the occasion to which M. Gerard referred, and could
positively declare that nothing so unseemly took place. He
was very sorry to differ from M. Gerard, but a regard for
the truth compelled him to make those statements. He
regretted that Capt. Burton was not present to corroborate
his statements; but he had seen a letter from that gentle-
man in the Anglo-African newspaper—a periodical pub-
lished weekly or monthly at Lagos by a coloured gentleman
—and in that letter the captain made no allusion whatever
to the horrible things which M. Gerard said he saw. There
was also a letter in the Times of Tuesday from a gentleman
writing from Catherine-street, Strand, who stated that he
had received a:letter by the last mail from Capt. Burton, but
that in that letter there was nothing at all about the extra-
ordinary cruelties to which M. Gerard referred. Commo-
dore Wilmot had also given an account of Dahomey which
differed very much from that of M. Gerard ; and he was
able to testify to the truthfulness of the commodore's state-
ments. There were only one or two other points to which
it was necessary for him to refer. With respect to the
agricultural capabilities of the country, he regarded it as a
cotton-growing region. Nothing could be said in defence
of human sacrifices, but there was no harm in stating that
the pecuniary element entered into the question to a very
large extent, and that if the natives could be brought to
believe that it was their interest to cultivate cotton and sell
it to Europeans they would abandon the slave trade. A
great deal had been said by Commodore Maury about
Africa not being a cotton-growing country. Now, Com-
modore Maury was a very high authority on winds and
tides, and so long as he kept to his own element he would
not interfere with him; but when he landed at Natal,
and began to talk about cotton, he was very liable to find
his statements criticised. A lady who was in the room had
shown Mr. Craft some cotton which had been grown at
Natal, and very good cotton it was ; the lady was Mrs.
Richardson. Commodore Maury seemed to be of opinion
that cotton would not grow welt unless it was nipped by
frost every year. Now, Natal was in about the same latitude
as Egypt, and as Egypt could grow very good cotton with-
out frost, why, he asked, might not Natal, if care were
taken to cultivate it ? With regard to West Africa and
Dahomey, he could testify that cotton was grown there in
abundance. Abbeokuta joined Dahomey, and a very con-
siderable cotton trade had sprung up there during the last
few years. At the present time there was a blockade there
owing to some difference between the British Government
and the Abbeokutans, and consequently the cotton was not
exported; but he knew for a fact that merchants were buy-
ing it up in considerable quantities, and staring it rip with
a view of sending it out of the country as soon as the blockade
was over. He believed that the slave trade was carried on
by the people of Dahomey for the purpose of gain. Slave
dealers went to the chiefs of different tribes and induced
them to go to war with one another, and remained behind
the scenes for the purpose of buying up the slaves that were
captured in the war. In this way heathen captives were
found to supply the market created by these Christian dealers
in human flesh. Now, he thought that if the King of Da-
homey and his chiefs could be interested in the cultivation
of cotton, and could be brought to feel that it was more pro-
fitable than the traffic in slaves, they would give the latter
up altogether. :Accordingly, he had told the king that the
demand for slaves would not exist for ever; that slavery
was becoming vary unpopular ; that the Americans were at
war, and that it might happen that before the war was closed
slavery would be abolished, in which case there would be
a very limited demand for slaves. (Hear. hear.) He
might state that the Americans had prohibited the slave
trade, but in spite of that a large number of slaves had
been taken to Cuba, smuggled across the Gulf of Mexico
into Florida, and carried thence into the interior of the
Southern States. He told the King he believed it would
pay him to attend to the cultivation of cotton, and not
only to its cultivation, but to its manufacture. The King
seemed interested in his statements, and replied that if ho
could point him to a good market he would be very glad to
grow cotton on a large scale. The King also offered him a
large place for carrying on his business—a large square at
IV
his
movements
surrounded
several storehouses. He also offered to facilitate
and gave him, moreover, about
300 samples
European manufacture, and said
h
the people of Dahomey would readily purchase of that
tyt o
m en
ot incloth
any b
ofy a mud wall about 20fc. high, and
w ay
kind if they were imported from Europe."
Mr. Craft then exhibited several articles of native
manufacture which he had brought from Dahomey ;
among these were two cushions made of native
leather, and having a sort of embossed surface of a
gay pattern. These formed the principal furniture
of a Dahomey dwelling. There were also suveral
specimens of native manufactured cloth, which was
made of narrow strips dyed in gay colours principally
yellow and red. Another article was an amazonian
sword, made apparently of very good steel, pro-
duced in the country. Mr. Craft also exhibited
a cartridge-box, ornamented with cowries, or
native coin, and pouches or bags of different kinds,
all more or less ornamented. There was also the
backbone of a boa constrictor, which, it was said,
was a very useful thing to keep off evil spirits, and
also to cure people of the back-ache. Other articles
were exhibited, such as beads of bone, and bamboo
baskets, made with great ingenuity to fit into one
another. Mr. Craft concluded by saying that he
did not think that the King of Dahomey or his
people would grow cotton from any high Christian
motive, at least in the first instance, but that he
was convinced that if they saw that they could do
it profitably they would cultivate it upon a very
large scale. Mr. Craft was very warmly cheered
in concluding his address, which, however, scarcely
excited the discussion in the section it is likely to
do elsewhere.

PRICK.... -..4d.
STAMPED ....sd.

harbour channel. The cost of the construction is
estimated at X 450,000 only, and this also includes
the construction of wharfs over the piling 200 ft.
wide, with /Ines of railway on the inner and outer
faces, a coaling depot for ships of war or: each side
of the apex of the work, each capable of holding
60,000 tons, with a lighthouse over each.

In addition to the immense tidal and floating basins
which would thus be added to the resources of Ports-
mouth as a naval arsenal, the adoption of this plan
would have the effect of throwing the inmost circle
of Portsmouth defences from their present position
at the harbour's mouth to the extreme edge of the
outer shoals, the 200 feet outer quay room, or as we
have termed it, wharf room, affording magnificent
space for the erection of any number of guns of the
largest calibre. This measure would effectually ren-
der impossible the holding of Spithead anchorage by
an enemy even supposing such enemy had forced
successfully the channels of entrance, and for this
cause alone, leaving out of the question its other
advantages, will doubtless receive the serious atter):
tion it deserves at the hands of the authorities.
Whether the fort be eventually erected on the
Sturbridge or on the Warner it is evident from what
has been here stated that the shore batteries on the
sea faces of Portsmouth required altering altogether
both in design and in their powers of offence; and
this is now being done at the two extreme points of
the base line of the triangle referred to—Southsea
Castle and Fort Monckton. Southsea Castle had a
short time since erected on either flank two earthen
auxiliary batteries, at a cost of £15,000. These are
now, of course, useless against iron ships, and new
works have been commenced of a very different cha-
racter. They consist of a tang arm connected with the
Castle, extended out on either flank, the Castle being
made the centre of the work, but it will be altered
altogether in its character. These flank works will
be curvilinear in all their outlines, and will be fitted
with platforms to sustain 22-ton or even heavier
guns. They will be iron-faced, and each embrasure
will be of iron on tbeThorncroft plan, and shielded.,
On the right flank of Fort Moncton is being con-
structed a very extensive mortar battery, which will
be also corvilinear in all its outlines: and a similar
battery is now completing on a low bluff
adjoining the seabeach at Puekpool, a short dis-
tance east of Ryde. What is required now to arm
these two last-named butteries with is an improved
mortar for throwing monster shells, for the vulner-
able part of an iron ship is her upper deck, and all
we arc as yet endeavouring to do is to smash in her
armour-plated sides.
Thus far we have endeavoured to describe what
is being actually done, and what has been proposed
for the defence of Spithead from attack by the
south-east channel. There is, however, a side
entrance for iron-clads to reach Spithead existing
in the Needles channel, and here measures are being
taken to close, if possible, the passage against them,
and Hurst Castle is the point selected. The
earthern auxiliary batteries which flanked the
Castle in a similar manner to the old flanking sup-
spionir tisl
aorfirSoonu.tfhaseeead haanvde
ebmeehararseumroevdewd,oarhnsd ptroectihseolsye
Southsea is receiving are being stretched along the beach
from either flank of the Castle, with this addition, that in
the case of Hurst, the guns will all be mounted in bomb
proof casemates, and it will be, therefore, of a stronger and
more extensive character than Southsea. It is certainly
to be hoped that the now work at Hurst may be found
sufficient to close the passage between the main and the
Needles against an enemy. Thousands upon thousands
sterling have been lavished during recent years upon the
Needles passage, and yet the latest, or one of the latest,
works of the Royal Engineers—Fort Victoria—stands a
monument of their folly, a shell-trap at the base of a cliff,
a thing that has been spoken of with derision by even naval
and military officers, and in the presence, too, of the
Defence Commission:

Mr. Craft's Visit to the King of Dahomey

The only section of the British Association
which possessed any very special interest
yesterday was that which has been through-
out the most popular—the section devoted to the
discussion of geographical and enthological ques-
tions. Yesterday it was unusually crowded to hear
Mr. Craft give an account of his recent visit to the
King of Dahomey. Mr. Craft commenced by re-
peating what he stated in the section the other
day,---
" That both his grand-parents were Africans of pure
descent, that they were kidnapped and sent to America,
that he was born there and had lived there as a slave. He
was now fortunately out of America. He had been in Eng-
land some 12 or 14 years, and confessed—though he did not
wish to insult any American lady or gentleman who might
be present—that he did not like America, and, of course
all negroes had reason for sharing that feeling of repug-
nance. Ho now considered himself an Englishman of
African parentage, unfortunately born in America. The
subject for consideration was Dahomey. There was a great
deal of difference with regard to the people of that country.
Some extraordinary accounts had been printed of what took
place there, and those accounts had induced him to go there
and to ascertain whether those accounts were true or false,
and whether anything could be done to change the bad
habits of the people in that part of the world. His friends
were much opposed to his going, and said that the King of
Dahomey would be sure to cut his head off as soon as he
laid hands on him. He felt, however, that it was his duty
to go, and at length a committee was formed for the
purpose of buying presents and making his mission as suc-
cessful as possible. At that period the Government had
given up Dahomey as a bad job, and felt they could do
nothing in the matter; and Mr. Layard, the Under-Sec-
retary of State for Foreign Affairs, after informing him of
the opinion held by the Government, and saying that he
should be glad to see him on his return, told him ho
candidly thought he never would get back again alive.
He gave him, however, a letter of introduction to the Go-
vernor of Lagos, requesting the Governor to give him every
assistance and protection in his power. He sailed from
Liverpool to Lagos about nine months ago, and west to
Dahomey through the lagoons in canoes. They day after
they reached the town where the King was staying, mes-
sengers came saying that his Majesty was ready to receive
his visitors. Here he might observe that, in thus giving a
truthful account of what h© saw and heard, he must not be
way for the barbarous cue
understood as apologising in any
toms of the place. He wished simply to state the truth.
The King also sent a rosewood liquor case, furnished with
cut•glass bottles, containing different kinds of spirits. This
was for the purpose of enabling the great men to drink to
the health of Mr. Craft in the name of the King. He then
got into a hammock, and proceeded to the palace. On his
way he saw in the market-place 12 platforms, 40 feet high,
150 ft. apart, and perhaps 10ft. or 12ft. square. On each side
of the platform was a man in an upright position, and quite
dead. These persons had all been executed the night before.
They were clad in accordance with the fashions of the
country, and in their hands or otherwise attached to their
persons were calabaches filled with native produce, and a
cord, to which were fastened two or three sheep. The
meaning of all this was that one Dahomey tribe held an
anniversary in honour of their victory over a neighbouring
tribe. When he came to the other side of the palace, he
found thousands of natives assembled. As they passed
through the crowd of natives saluted them, and when
they came into the palace yard they found thousands of
the principal people of the country. The chiefs stood
on the right hand of the King, while on his left there
were 2,000 or 3,000 Amazons, attired in their gayest
costume. The King himself sat under a large tent, and
was surrounded by his wives and a few officers of the
Amazon regiment. When they approached the King they
bowed to him, and he returned the salutations. He was
was seated on a raised platform about 10ft. square, covered
with handsome cloth. He immediately rose and shook Mr.
Craft and his companions heartily by the hand, saying that
he was glad to see him, and thanking him for taking the
trouble to pay him a visit. He also inquired very kindly
after his health, and after the health of her Majesty the
Queen and of the members of the British Government, to
all which Mr. Craft replied that he believed they were very
well. He then inquired whether the Queen had sent him to
Dahomey, to which Mr. Craft answered No,' but that he
came at the request of a number of English friends of the
King's, who desired to promote civilisation in Africa, and
to encourage a legitimate trade between the people of Eng-
land and Dahomey. He also told him that, though they
did not come direct:y from the British Government, ho
knew they had the good wishes of the G ,vernment, who
would be very glad if something could be done in the way he
had proposed. The King seemed at once to understand the
matter, and said it was all right; and he proposed succes-
sively the healths of the gentlemen who had sent Mr.
Craft, of Mr. Craft himself, and of her Majesty the Queen.
It was customary at the palace to taste a little of every-
thing that war oftred in the way of drink, but visitors

Dover and Calais are now within 1.1 hours of each other.
The "James Penn " crosses the Channel in that time. This
rapidity is due to improvements in the marine englne. Gri:y
hair is restored to its natural colour, and tic dolorcux and
nervous headache cured by Herring's magnetic brushes.
Their undeviating success is due to late improvements by
the inventor. N.B.- -Counterfeits are beint,r made. Offices,
52, Basinaliall-street, Loudon.
THE NEW GOVERNMENT OFFICES.— 1 h 2, con-
tract for the new India and Foreign offices to -re
erected by Mr. Scott, the architect, has been let to Messri,
smith and Taylor, whose tender, £195,573, being 11,a
lowest, was accepted. The other tenders, making 11 in all
were Messrs. Little, £2o9,6ls—Alessrs. Higgs, £200,669--
Messrs. Rigby, £2o6,lo9—Messrs. Piper and Wheeler,
£200,355--Mesers. Myers and Son, £l9s,s6o—Messrs.
Holland and Hannen, £197,487—Messrs. Cubitt, £190,750
—Messrs. Kirk, £l93,soo—Messrs. Lucas, £195,270—and
Messrs. Baker, £195,800. The foundations for the entire
building in 14 feet of concrete are all finished, awl that por-
tion of the structure intended to be appropriated for the use
of the India office has just been commenced,