New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-05-12
ANCESTORS OF THE CAROLINIAHs.
AMiZONS READY FOR ANY SACRIFICE.

Tn epite Of the remonstrsnces Of tho EngTsh the
King Of Dahomey has made the enormous human
slaughter which he announced, in honor Of the late
King GEO. We have not yet received the particulars
Of the butcher but ono Of lis principal features wac
the filing of "a canal which was dug somc months
ago. with human blood. This was large enough, aud
was filed deep enough, so that the now King could
take peasureyoyage on il in canoe luxury OF fe-
roety which II las beenrseryodt the laerhaf Of the
nineteenth century to wines. We have learned only
that the number Of victims was cstimlred by per-
son at O) and by another at 700O and that ore Of
the wnesses sayf, the blood flowed past him like a
river"
The frgt notice which we have OF Dalomey is IN
1884 when a Mr.. Lamb an agent for the English Afr
can Company wac carried captive its capital, Abo-
mey. A letter which be wrote to the commandant Of
the English fort at Whydah, the seaport Of Abomey
giyes very curious description Of the King and Gus
toms. lie saws that the King is Prodgious vain and
proud but wihal Ibceye the richest king and great
est warrior in this part of the world and You may de-
pend upon it, in time will subdue most Of tie countries
round him. lie has already set Lis two Chief palaces
round with men skulls az thick as they can lie on tho
walls one by another and ere such as he has killed IN
war each Of which palaces IL larger than s.. James,
q ~
letter offers 10 purchase lot Of slaves, and sends for
paper the King wishing him 10 make Kite for them
to play with. The King had thcn twenty cannons,
some of them upward Of two. thousand weight, O." 80
that man would think the devil helped 70 bring ibcm
there "Ifthere is any cast-oh woman says Lamb,
either hite or muatto that could be persuaded 20
come 70 this country either TO be biz wife or else Tac
tee her old trade. should gain lis Msesiys heart
I'll I,d xuiv lip
went out to draw water, 200 at time, gorgcously
dressed in silk wGist-clChs one day. and IN another
with scarlet clothes and three four large strings oi
coral about their noeks their leaders being drcffed IN
preen. crimson and blue velvet with silver-gt mgces
in their Lands Lamb gives account Of his capture
He save he was carried to the Kings den, and though
he was in great hurry md hushed with victory, be
took me very kindly by the hand and gave me DRAM
which was some comfort TO me, ne knew not who be
WAS: AZ fret took him to be the King Of Ardahs
brother, but then / admired WONDERED a. bis face be-
ing cut and the house being in hames; but soon UNI
dcrsiood who he was. When We went ont there WAS
scarcely any stirring for bodies without bcads, aud had
il rained blood it could not have lain thicker The
ground"
The extent Of the kingdom Of Dalomey il matter OF
conjecture Within thirty OF forty Yeas it bias been
largely increased by the raids among neghboring Ms
tons no, for the purpose Of conquest Of territory Ou
for the capture Of slaves The beet accounts We have
Of the country are from Capt Forbes, who scnt by
he British in 1880 to s country for The purpose OF
seeing II some treaty could not be made with King
GEO for the suppression Of ibe slaye.t.de. Mr.
Duncan virited the country four five y,as previous
To- his book Is mainly occupied vih account Of biz
own health and comforts. Capt. Forbes says that the
whole population OF Dahomey does not exceed 100000
Of which abou 30 900 reside in the capital Abomey,
about 20 miles from the seaport of the country, Why.
dab. ON the Blight Of Benin About one-ienth Of the
population are free. Tie regular army cc5ss Of 1000
arnazons end 900 males. IN time Of war, an esao'-
binary levy Of $1,000 mon, with large nuni g. Of
camp followers iucreasos the amy TO NOR tian one
fourth Of the whole population OF the kingdom. There
is in annual war in November December aud on
the return in January tho King makes Fetish; ihat
il. sacriGcee largely gives liberal presents TO The dcrgy
OF the country, and pureases The prisoners and Heads
from hs soldiers; the slaves 1cn sod 10 .he slave
merchants and the proceeds 20 toward The great an
nnal feass, called Customs the principal Of Which il in
March. when the Kings wealth Is displayed in Grand
PROCESSION In Nav and June festival is bold Ia honorof
Trade when a ena schooner is drawn round the capital
laden with gis, which are crwaFd distributed TO the
army In July the soldiers placed along the road
from Aboroey 10 Whydah, and a royal salute IL sent
backward and forward by the discharge Of uuskctry,
when the King drinks. Drinking indeed is the chief
royal pursuit Lamb gays, in Bis letter, tlat he bad
plenty Of brandy allowed him. the King Is always well
supplied with liquors. and even the marriage ceremony
Is performed by the bride handing glass Of rum 10 the
groom. In the Fall, before going 10 war the King
gives another festival, in memory OF lis iiher which
generally lasts month. at all these there are many
human sacrifices.
The first man in the kingdom i the mlegan or ciei
executioner; the second is the mayo grand yizier
The whole people are divided into he megans party
and the mayos party. Each Of these has It's division Of
amazons and In war the miegans party occupies the
right md the nayos the left wing
The Amazons are not supposed to marry they boast
that they have changed their SEX they dress in COT
ton skull-cap with animal painted in blue on u,
blue and white cotton tunie without seeyes reaching
foot below the waist and pair ofsho loose drawers
which reach 10 the knees belt
box dirk and club. Their guns Of the old Danish
pattern and thoy take good Of tbem keeping tho
barrels in covers except when on duty. In barracks,
tho Amazons are under the Of eunuchs. In their
Some inland eoaie' do svi 'ndirsy fsh 'ss' FOL ONE
nsnJS sste.