New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-05-12

awbone. Three treee standing apart from the rest,
bore the bleacbed remains Of three brothers, whose
story was thus related:
Wbai is remarkable in Africa, the three brothers
were born of one father and one mother. When the
King of Dahomey, years ago, made war upon Greig.
VIE, one of these brothers found slightly wounded
on the road, and beheaded as warning to Others.
This act Of tyranny 20 enraged his brothers, that they
demanded death or release from the ranks and
received the former. For a military example their
skulls bleach here while the tale is told by every
urchin.
He found the City of AbOmey entered by six gates,
each of which DOUBLE one entrance being for the
King and the other for subjects. In each of these
entrances human skulls, and within the gates
pile of skulls human and of all the beasts Of the field
even to the elephant. The city s about eight miles in
circumference, surrounded by ditch filed with the
prickly acacia pottery and dy e-bouse are roy al
monopolies, worked by the Kings wives. Within the
civ are large waste aDds and many cultivated filrms
All the houses are surrounded by lgh redclay walls
which incose large forest trees beside orange banana
and other frut-trees The houses are low, matched,
and of one story. There Is no water within five miles
of the city.
Capt. Forbes was met by an escort bearing the
Dahoman standard surmounted by skull, and con-
Quoted TO the King. The walls Of the palace ~ feet
high were surmouned by human skulls, many ofwhich
time had decayed and the wind blown down. lie
thought it happy omen that they had not been re-
placed. The square Of the palace was filled with
armed men and women sitting on the ground, the
polished barrels of their Dansh muskes standing up
like forest. Und matched gateway was the King,
surrounded by his Immediate wives; while on
each side sat the amazons, all in uniform,
armed and accoutered and in the center OF
the square squaed the male soldiers. lie
represeI King Geo az wanting several shades OF
being black and treadingthe earth if it were hon.
ored by its burden. Indeed, be would be Handsome
man, were It not for cast in his eye. The Amazon
regiments were distinguished by different animals
PAINTED on their sknllcaps. One had an alligator,
another blue cross, another blue crown. The OFF,
cers wore necklaces and carried email whips which
they found frequent occasion TO use. Some OF the
higher officers of the Amazon corps waited on the
King; one Of them held his silver spittoon.
Immediately in the rear Of the King eat the Light
Of the Harem," under crimson and gold parasol;
around her many an enyious maid whose turn it might
be coon to be thus honored. Their dresses CANDY
with coral and beads The King drank with them,
he drank. Capt Forbes gave and received presents,
transacted his business and then returned TO the coast
where hehad an opportunity Of seeing cargo Of slaves
branded with Dutch tobacco pipes instead OF branding
IRONS the letters c, o, +, and being formed by
ingenious use of tie whole half and the two halves OF
the bowl of the pipe.
The principal lion of Whydah is the snake fetish
house, "a temple built around huge cotton tree in
which are at all times large number Of snakes Of the
boa snecies. These demi-gods are allowed 10 roam
about AT pleasure; but if found in house or at die
lance. q fc,ish nan or s sought, whose duty
il to induce his Holiness 10 return. While reconduct
ing II 10 s sacrcd abode, all who meet il must bow
down and Kris the dust. Morning and evening, many
are to be seen Frustrated before the door in worship
IL is not little singular that the descendants Of the
Dahomans in this country should have succeeded, by
their influence on the general tone and condition Of
soci,ty in pcrpe,uatng this snakeworship upon the
aag Of one q our ster States. The sacred snakes Of
the gareu, country, however are not venomous.
In 1850, Capt. Forbes accepted an invitation from
the King 10 make another visit to Abomey, and view
the annual custom The greater part of the skulls on
the palace walls had fallen down, but in the CEN
ter Of the square, small octangular building had been
adorned with rs skulls freshly cleaned and vanished,
The heads Of some OF the victims Of the tragedy Of
Okeadon. This town was taken by the Dahonans in
1878 through the treachery Of one Of the chiefs OE
posito to this was n handsome pavilion, under which
s1t tie King who again welcomed him with the COM
nand to drink.
Next DAY, the MAYO entertained him with concert
at which one Of the royal bards Gang the glores and
bounty Of the King:
Tho Atsrahns ran Aie tie abo'en IN the bush from he
hordes OF Chimpanzeei
The pisorcIs numerous than stars
For who can be- saved when tie King goes to war
Among prisoners daughter OF the Chief Of the
country;
Who 50 goncrou. Geo who gave her as.se to bis
troubadourl
Some year, ago Geo killed. pitor. called Aheharlesi
Iiis head edonls tie palace Of the King OF Kings
And worthy bis clothes pointing 10 the sen
tunie aud dsuask crimson silk Turkish which BE-
wore
Ihose aiuei ard have been friend OF GEO.
And thu + hi. memory honorcd"
The bard next sang III honorof Queen Victoria great
Get Of white monachs Us GEO was OF black for which
the Captain gave him two gallons ofrum. The traditions
Of the country in the keeping Of these bards. host
Of the king sister, and daughters in with null
tifalious attendants. The old troubadour tried to
please them in vain younger one must be called IN,
who won their hearts by singing exploits Of Amazons
and Of King GEO, the only monarch in the world who
had an Amazon army. But soon the princesses rose en-
mafse; each produced small bottle and attacked the
aged minister who obliged TO fill all the bottles
with rum for this is their royal prerogative. When
thcy were all satisfied they formed in procession and
marched oil 10 the next gate, where the scene was
repeated.
On his text visit 10 the King who was sitting in
state with some three thousand armed Amazons squat-
ting around him. after and troubadours, with much
ceremony large caabushes were brought in, con-