The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1865-03-29
HUMAN SACRIFICES AT DAHoMEY..

HUMAN SACRIFICES AT DAHOMEf.
The Moniteur publishes letter from
Whydah, which supplies details respect
ing the festival Of human sacrifices recent
" held at Abomey, the capital OF Dtho.
mey, before the King ~nd in presence o.
all his court and great dignitaries OF State.
The letter saws:
The King having announced tosthe peo-
nile that, in shart time, to honor the names
>of Agougoro. his ancestor. and King Oeao
mis- father, lorty PRISONERS belonging 20 the
rebel tribe of the Akanhas would 6t I'M
.molated ON the market place AT Abomey,
with the usual ceremony three days after
wards he decided that this barbarons deed
should be accomplished one hour before
sunrise. Many Europeans who were 20
the town had an audience OF the Monarch,
and impiored him to give mp the horrible
sacrifice. The King declared that he could
net suppress the national festival. but that.
in consideration Tor the foreigners, he can
scented to reduce the number to twelve. On
the eve OF the sacrifice he went TO great
she'd, underwhich the forty prisoners were
secured TO posts. He gave an order that
fwenty-eight should be released. and that
they Should be taken back TO their prisen,
and then addressed himself to the twelve
others in order'to announce 10 them that.
next morning. in expiation Of the crimes
committed BY the chief oil their tribe, aud
TO satisfy the shade of his father and his
ancestor, they would be decapitated be-
lore the assembled people. The uniortu-
nate men heard the royal speech with the
.stmost indifference.
The King added that two Of them would
se executed with his own hand. and then
retired. A short time afterwards arrived
Prince Bocusau. the Kings brother. fie
chose two of The prisoners, announced 70
them that they had been selected 10 be dis
patched BIZ his brother. but in order TO BE-
admitted 10 such an honor Il was necessary
to purity their crime-siained bodies, and
that they must pass the night in the great
fetish temple, prestrated before the idols
On the next DAY The prisoners we're led q
the market place, their hands bound behind
their backs. The King presided at th,
ceremony, seated on large ivory throne
surrounded BY his court. the great dignita.
ries d the kingdom. and the ministry.
On the centre Of the place was ! large
silver vessel, intended 10 receive the blnod
of the victims. When the hour had come
the King advanced, took very thin stee
sabre, and depressed the heads Of the tw'
prisoners he Was about to immediate. These
poor wrttches, on the order given 10 them
were placed al the edge IT Tie vessel which
was absut t. catch their blood. AT n,
conclusion Of the first execution the CROW,
uttered enthusiastic shouts of applause fol
full FIVE minutes, after which the King re
.ssned his seat on the throne. The othe
ten prisoners were executed BY the grea
fetish man, or high priest, who picked u
each victims head and showed il 70 III,
people. whilst they uttered ierocious yells
When ali was over, the populace Eel
upon the bodies of the unfortunate victims
which they cut Into pieces and then dranl
their blood. The King retired 10 grea
pomp. and caused the twelve heads 10 b
hxed on the walls Of his palace. Thes
msnsirons scenes occur three or four time
4 rear, and this j. the nineteenth century
Unfortunately human sacrifices are not con
fined to the Kingdom Of Dahoaev. The
take place also very frequently in III
Kingdoms Of Abbeoknta, Ashsniee an
Benin, also situated in Africa, and In III
same region - Dahomey.
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