Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1863-08-14
Customs in Dahomey.

The London News gives the following
facts, gathered from the dispatches Of
Commodore Wilmot ON his recent off
cial visit to Dahomey. The king is q
very fling looking man, upwards of six
feet high, broad shouldered, and pleas
ant countenance when he likes. Hi,
eyes are bloodshot, which may arise from
want of rest or other causes. He is n
great smoker, but does not indulge much
in the bottle. His skin is much lighter
than most of his people, resembling the
copper color OF the American Indians -
He is very active and fond of dancing
and singing, which he practices in public
during the "customs" He is much ad
dicted to the fair sex, of whom he pos
sesses as many as he likes. He is about
forty-three years old. The Commodore.
who was accompanied by Capt. Luce
and DR.. Haram, of the Brisk, were in
Abomey upwards of five weeks, and dai
ly witnessed scenes of very extraordi-
nary character, such as the dancing OF
the amazons, their warlike songs, the
dancing and songs Of the soldiers, the
distribution of presents to the princes,
chiefs, captains and head men of the
troops, the passing" of the kings drum
mers, of the captain of the amazons, OF
The kings testers and variety of other
people which appear before the king dor
ing the customs" On some of the DAYS
when 'cuotoms" were going on there was
a procession of the kings treasures"
including the human sacrifices, which
consisted Of men with their bands and
feet tied, each carried in a basket by one
man on the top of his head. The men
were carried three times round the
square, the first timo stopping opposite
to where the king was sitting, where the
bearers received glass of rum each from
an amazon in attendance. They then
passed through the gates to the platform
halt mile off. The procession lasted
two days, and the human sacrifices pass
ed round both days on the first day 8
went round, aud the second day six; half
of these were killed and shalt spared-so
we were told. Probably they are only
spared until the next customs" The
men looked at us as thew
passed; but it was not in our power TO
help them in any way" The commc-
iore would not witness the staying Of
he men which took place, and the king
m the occasion gave him one of the vic
inns who was about to be slaughtered
With regard to the slave trade, the king
said that the trade had been carried on
n his country for centuries, and that il
was bis great means of living and pay
ng his people. He did hot send slaves
away IN his own ships, but white men,
came to him for them, and was there any
harm in his selling? We ought to pre-
vent the "white man" from coming to
him; if they did not come he could not
sell. We have seen what a great deal
he had to give away every year to his
people, who are dependent on him that
his corld not be done by selling palm oil
alone. If people come for palm oil he
would sell it to them he could not carry
IN his government upon that trade alone.
II be gave up the slave trade, where was
re to get money from. 1t was not his
auIt that be sold slaves, but those who |
made his fathers do it, aud hence it be-
omes an institution of his country. He
aid 81 cannot stop all at once what
will my people do? And besides this,
should be in danger of losing my life"
The Commodore says: 81 asked him
row much money he would take to give
t up. He replied, "no money will induce
ne to do so; am not like the king of
Lagos, Porto, Novo, Denim, &c. There
ire only two kings in Africa, Ashantee
md Dahomey; | am the king of the
lacks. Nothing will recompense me
or the slave trade" | argued that it
must be stopped in time; that even now
'ery few ships came for them, and what
would he do when it was all done? II
ound it useless to go on any further on
his subject"
g. No man can avoid his own COM
,any-so he had best make it as good as