Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1851-04-04
Dahamerain AGsea

Dahomcy, in Africa.
Tho various particulars of statistical and otiisr in
formation relative to Dahomey, acquired by Lieut..
Forbes during his first mssion sfys the Athenseum,
may be thus thrown together. The country isabout
$50 miles in extent from east to west-and about
2U0 miles from the coast to its inland frontier
the Kong mountains. This large country, though
rich in all kinds of natural resources is very thinly
peopled, owing to the. devastating war and Slave
hunts of which it has been the scene for more than
a century The whole population does not exceed
1t IS supposed 100000 persons of both sexes of whom
only 10000 are free. The capital, Abomey, num-
bers about $4,000 inhabitants. The Dahoman army
consists OF 1900 regular troops, of whom about
5000 are Amazons fighting negresses-such ar
mics OF Amazons having been of the institutions OF
Dahomey ever since the reign of Ada Hoonzoo, the
grandfather of Geo, (1774-1789O of whose
happy" conceptions it was to make his female sub
jects serve him as soldiers as we'll as the males On
occasions of emergency, however, the King of Daho-
mey can bring $4,000 soldiers of both sexes, or a
fourth part of his subjects into the field the
being as efficient as the men. and much fercer.
The sole occupation of the nation with the ex-
cepton of little agriculture which is we'll conduct
ed and few manufacturing processes carried on at
Abomey, is war slaye-huntng. Every yeaG the
nation is levied foray led against some
adjacent tribe nation in the interior or near the
coast,--villages are destroyed. and the aged and
young murdered,-an thousands of prisoners are
dragged into the Dahoman territory, to be either
sacrificed to the Fetish gods, driven down tc
Whydah, where resident slave merchants purchase
them from the Dahoman king, and sell them again
to Portuguese and Brazilian traders who are the
watch to run them through the line of the British
cruisers and the Atlantic These slave-hunts
usually take place in November and December -
Their proceeds form the sole revenue of the Daho
man king who, besides supply his soldiers with ra
tons rewards them by an annual largess Of rum
cloth, cowryshells &C., during the period of the
% Customs His ministers and higher officers are
similarly paid The king is absolute, and decapi
tates his bjects at pleasure-his prime minister
being also his executioner; still there certain
traditions and rules which bind him. At the annua
q Customs Dahoman opinion makes itself heard
and topics of state freely handled in noisy pala
yer, in which the Amazons take leading part. A
these " Customs" the scene of the next slave-hunt il
discussed and secretly determined. The Fetish
people. priests, exercise good deal of influence
all the year round.
Trying the Other End Of the Rod or, Turning thu
The Minnesota Pioneer" relates the following
good anecdoe -
Everybody knows M, clerk, of the DR.. Frank
n No 2 and one of the severest practical okers tina
ever ran upon the river, that ran saws upor
greenhorns The past season, as one OF his instruments
of waggery, he took along couple OF reeds, QndaI
futes,) one of which was charged with flour, tina
when the flute was blown, perfect cloud of flour
discharged into the face and eyes of the person blow
ing it. Whenever M found any passenger. priest
or layman, it was all the same TO him, who NANTES
ted interest in these Indian curostes he would pro
duce the two flutes, and reainining the that was
not loaded with -four, would hand over the other Il
the verdant enquirer and would then commence play
F ing that plaintve, monoonous Dacota tune, with
variation of two notes, which is familiar 10 the
E of every resident of St. Paul. Thus decoyed th
possessor of the other flute was certain to follow D.
example, and at the very first toot to blow cloud
-four into his face, from the barrel of the flute
which is played like claronet and thus produced il
the crowd around outburst OF merlment at his OWL
expense.
On the last trip of the Franklin, but a few week
since, MI had his Indian flutes along. usual ant
one of the passengers, who up to snuff, determin
ed TO turn the laugh for once upon the old wag him
+ self so he took Ms decoy flute away TO the cool
room and charged it we'll with finely pulverized char
COAL and returned it, without Ms knowledge, to it
place in the Office with the other flute, and after din
ner said in M. S hearing, that il would be pleasant
, have some musc.''
. "Certainly," says NJ; did you ever see tn
flutes that the Sioux bands up the river play upon
a No. replied the stranger, ' never did. Do tel
me if they have flutes"
This was enough for M. His face, luminous as tn
sun behind crimson cloud, radiant with antici
pated fun and he wrough out the two flutes and hand
Y ed TO the enquirer the one loaded with flour.
. A whole crowd, the most of whom understood tn
flour trick, several Of them having been themselve
victmized, gather around to see the sport
r I" La, me ' said the enquirer, should not-why
$ haven't the least idea-why how do you Crying 1
finger The holes) blow the darned things any way %
! {" Oh, simple, very simple" replied NJ; 8" thi
instrument is used by the Indian lover in serenadn
his dusky sweetheart All he attempts is plaintv
melancholy pathetic air. to touch the heart of his mis-
$ tress The notes very simple" (Here he wer
into lengthy dsquston on Indian music customs an
s. habits) The air is simply this (blows and fill
: his own face with powdered charcoal the whole crow
: laughing and roaring, and fairly tumbling down wit
y excessive mirth)
# NJ stood for moment begrined as an Etbic
plan, and then dropping the flute upon the floor e1
= claimed
d "Caught in my trap, by"
If After that they had plenty of music on the Frank
f linz for that M avW have; but no more India
l. flutes!
u The SECRET OF SUCCESSIVE hat is it, In this codr
> try, among people who equally protected and Ell
couraged, it lies in the steady pursuit OF intelligence
industry, temperance and frugaIity So far as outwa
comfort and competence constitute wealth there is b.
:, fraction society who may not possess it, if eac
j, will but turn his hand and brain to the vocation fl
~ which his instinct and capacity most fit him. If ii
~ great fortunes which so dazzle the msjudging poor
Is analysed, they will be found, in every ninety-nine
T. the hundred to have sprung and matured fro
J calm, patient and simple toll which had endurant
- and faith behind and object and hope before it.