Daily gazette and comet. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1856-186?, 1860-02-17

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Africa, under the date Of September
9th, gives the following character.
isties Of an influential gentleman
of Africa
Dahomey is governed by the most
tytanicbai monarch IN The whole
world. His word IL law, and who
ever thwatths him tUses his head
without the least ceremony but |
must gay II is by far the best gov
etned countfy ! have seen IN Africa.
lie IL a king Of the most powerful
aud warlike people on the contin-
enl, and IL continually engaged In
hustilities against the smaller and
weaker tribes, to obtain prisoners,
many Of whom are sold M slaves,
aud large numbers are offered as
sacrifices upon the death Of any "a
voriie Of his majesty While was
Of Whydab he offered up 30 victims
at the funeral ceremonies Of ole Of
his chiefs. AT the death of King
Uuzo, who died last November. 800
captives we're killed, besides goo
of his favorite wives. Since then
the number Of victims killed by this
blood thirsty wretch for his father
Is 2400 Previous to my going 90
Whydah, the King had sent his
messenger with bis cane, command
lug all people, both black and white.
who were trading with in his coun-
try, 20 appear at Dahomey, to at.
tend the grand custom In honor of
the late King, hts father. Az was
at Whydah at the time, the mes.
sage wac sent TO me, saying that
he had been successful IN his expe.
ditions, aud had taken three thou.
sand prisoners, whose blood would
be used 20 wash the graves Of his
ancestors. Whenever the Kings
name IN mentioned. all within hear.
ing fall down and kiss the earth.
and cover themselves with DUST
They would not deliver the message
TO me until Lstood up and took off
my hat. You have 90 take the cane
IN your hand during the delivery of
the message, when you are suppos.
ed TO be IN direct communication
with the King; the messengers all
the time are PROSTATE on the ground.
Three men are always sent, one to
watch the otberb, and see The mes.
sage IN given as received. This IL
always the case when any message
il sent to the next world, to see
that the way is not lost.
The present Kings title IL Reernee,
which means the lion. at whose
name both man and beast fee
About three months ago the Fetish
told the King that the people of a
certain village were the means of
the late Kings death. He conse.
quently attacked them aud killed
every sout--six hundred In number
not sparing one. So much for
this wholesao butchery.
100 -
0uR INTERCOURSE Win CHINA
The new treaty with China was to
become operative on and after the
Gath Of November last. Mr.. Ward,
In announcing this fact, also states
that two new ports--Swato~, in
the province of Fuhkin. and Faiwan,
in the island of would
afford an entry TO American trade
on the LIST day OF January, 1860.
The other ports now open. for our
commerce, are Canton, Annoy, Fun
chau, Fingpo and Shanghai
These are to be added as the ne.
cessities Of trade shall demand, or
rs the treaties with other power, $
shall give an equal right, The
privilege OF residence ut, or jour.
neys to and from any OF these
places, is guaranteed to American
merchants and their families. as
well as transient traders. The
treaty Of Waoghia-that of 1874
is understood to be yet in force.
relative to the tariff of duties on
articles of export or import, unless
future treaties with other powers
shall reduce the rates, it being
expressly understood that our ci,i.
gems shall never be called upon
for higher duty than is paid by
the most favored nation.