Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-04-24
WESTERN AFRICA AND rA SLAVE TRADE.

ton of the African town of Lagos has given rise Ia
special inqulriesin the House of Commons respect
ing the present condition Of the sayerade in West
ern Africa, the circumstances which led to the al.
tack on Lagos, and the effect good or bad of main.
tanning naval force that coast for the suppress
sion OF the slaye-trade. These inquiries (,ays the
Boston Courer) have brought out certain documents
from the British Government which contain some
very curious and interesting facts We shall proceed
tolay few specimens before our readers:
The first of these papers is despatch dased June 30,
l849, and addressed by Lord PALmrRsToS to Mr. Bee
CROFT comforting that gentleman the appointment Of
Consul at certain places the African coast and in
structng him to every possible influence to induce
the native kings chiefs to exchange the slave trade for
humane and equally profitable description of traf-
c The British Secretary had already written to the
King of Dahomey to impress upon his Majesty know
edge Of the fact that agriculture and are more
useful and advantageous than the stealing and selling of
men, women and children The African monarch sent a
reply which furnishes in striking the measure
of his capacity to judge of the motives that induce the
people of Chrstendom to interfere in matters relating
the slave trade and which show, moreover how little has
been done to make the poentates of Western Africa view
this question under moral aspect: .
ssThe King Of Dahomey presents his best compliments
to the Queen Of England The presents which she has
sent him very acceptable and good for his face
When Governor Wniett visited the King, the King told
final answer about the Slave ds cannot see n
he and his people do without it, 1t is from the slave
trade that he derives his principal This he has
explained in long palaver to Mr. Cruickshank He begs
the Queen of England to put stop to the slave trade
every where else, and aliow him 10 continue IT,
The letter concludes with another request of the King
from which tappears that this parsonage is sharpsghed
enough to that the prosperity of his subjects may
prove dangerous to his despotc power. Many king Of
Christendom has felt awkwardy the sovereign Of
Dahomey at seeing his people grow rch without speak
ing his mind so honestly as this sable monarch:
The King begs the Queen to make law that ships
be allowed to trade at any place his domnions
lower down the than Whydah as By means of trading
Ues the people getting rh and resisting his authority
He hopes the Queen will send him good guns
and blunderbusses and plenty of them enable him
make He also uses much cowries and wishes the.
Queens subjects to bring plenty of them Whydah to
make trade. He wishes to plenty of Englishmen
making trade at Whydah"
In consequence of these negotiations Lieut. FORBES
British naval officer, requested by the King visit
him at Abomey his capital city The following extracts
from his narrative will be read with singular interest,"
Having entered the gate of the city, which is orna
mented with human skulls, and in the vicinity of the
principal Feshhouse, halted and taking position in
chairs the road waited for the ceremony of being
met by the Cabooceers. In short time immense
crowd advanced towards with banners flying amongst
them At distance they halted, and the Governor
of the city, at the head Of few soldiers advanced When
arrived in front of position he counermarched and
made circle from left to right three times round
seats bowling each time when he in front On the
last time he fired off musket and danced before them
having shaken hands, he took seat The square in front
Of the palace, though extremely large, densely
crowded with armed and women, squatted their
hams their long Danish muskets standing up like minia
ture forest Banners abounded those of the King being
uniformly surmounted by a skull This CHASTITY style Of
appears be particularly in request in Daho
mo Tba IF c1a ohouf fuau
five feet high extending more than square mile
continued line of human skulls yet it might be
remarked that where decay had destroyed them these
CHASTITY ornaments not replaced On the thresholds
and sides of the partas of the palace also human
skulls but the practice Of human sacrifice is fast vanish
ing from the kingdom of Dahomey."
Lieut.. FORBES Witnessed specimen Of despotic power
which i'll agrees with the concluding statement Of the
above passage. Ten persons Of rank, who had given
offence the king led prisoners about the city,
and compelled to dance after which their heads
off with large knives in presence Of the British function
airy, and in spite of his entreates and remonstrances
The King of Dahomey has regular cabinet; Prime
Minister Minister Of Police Treasurer, Minister Of
Justice &c. He has eighteen thousand sriresf those who
have counted them be rustedwhich think rather
doubtful He has army Of Amazons of which the fol-
lowing description is given:
"The king then expressed wish should witness q re-
view of female troops and two regiments were at
ed out for the man9uvrng The officers femaes) were
distinguished by armlets of silver reaching from the wrist
to the elbow, and carrying each small whip. The whole
uniformly dressed in tunics of blue and white armed
with musket club and short sword carried cartouch-
boxes and went through several eyoutons skirmshng
firing voleys, &c. with much precision"
The British officer treated his Majesty to basket Of
champagne, which dispatched with great gusto at
dinner to which the former invited But the festvi
ties weU interrupted in extraordinary manner:
"Ater drinking her Majestys health the troops hur-
rahed and the salute commenced but before ii half
were all obliged to scamper after the Prime Mi
mister, and hide faces against the wall, portion
of the eighteen thousand royal wives passing ring
ing small bell These sable ladies all the
at all times and male may gaze them unpunished."
The Kings wives notable fighters and when slave
hunt is undertaken they catch than the
number of male troops The scale of his operations
may be estimated when that in one expedition
and children After sacrificing FIVE hundred he sold the
rest for expectation. His annual revenue from the sale
Of slaves is estimated about eco 900 year Accord
ing TO the latest accounts he had thrown off the mask
and laughing at the creduty Of the English who had
ancisd that he would degrade himself by employing his
Amazonian body guard in the cultivation Of cotton or In
any other peaceable pursuit.
According to the testimony of Lieut. FORBES the per-
manent cessation Of the saveradc is thing hardly 70
be expected No organized system is required Tor It's
support might be suspended for century and then
renewed weeks notice The British, 1t seems, have
confidence in the pledges to abstain from the trac
given by the African chiefs and with this belief It is
not likely that their blockading squadron will be with
draw MT