The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1869-09-25

Dahomey IL the great mii.tary monar-
chy of Western Africa. Small in itself,
it beco, les terrible by it's entire devotion
to works of conquest and slaughter. 1t
10 huge association of human tigers.
The whole population OF this formida-
bic state 10 said to be only 100000. of
which nc. more than 10000 are free.
But probaDiy no kingdom in the world
possesses so large an army in proportion
to its numbers. The military force Of
Daholney consists of 5000 men and
5000 scomen and of this force the
most savage and ferocious portion is that
of the women.
These female soldiers are all armed
with long Danish muskets, and short
swords and clubs. Their appearance on
one Of the grand parade-days rs describ-
ed as very striking. THE regiments,
on entering the square, take up different
positions, where they seat themselves on
the ground, waiting to be summoned to
the kings presence. Each regiment, on
bring commanded to advance, forms in
irregular column, and the officers, who
are distinguished by coral necklaces and
superior dresses, advance before the
troops, and kneel and utter many pro
testations Of valor; such as 1--WE are
men, and not women; we will conquer
or die" They also declare where they
wish the torrent of war to be next d.
rected. At the review Of 1850. Abbeo.
kuta was thus pointed out: "Give US
Abbaokuta! Attahpahm is destroyed |;
give us Abbeokuta! As the grass is cut
down to clear tho road, 20 will we cut
off the Abbeokutans."
"1he king has great pride In his ar
my. ami often turned to u.s." Gays Mr..
Forbes, "as the amazons went through
their evolutions he is proud of these fe-
male guards, who in every way rival the
males."
War 10 the main resource Of the Da-
homeans. The kings exchequer 10 fur
nished by the produce Of slaves captured
ON these warlike expeditions. The sol
disrs are clothed and fed at the expense
OF the king and the chiefs but they re-
ceive no pay except 90 reward for the
prisoners they capture, or the skulls they
bring home,
The great Annual Feast of Dahomey
consists of too many ceremonies to be
here described. A single scene 10 ex.
hibitsd in the sngraving,-the Human
Sacrifices. .~
A large platform 10 erected in the CEN
tire of the market-plaee. 1t is decora-
ted with tents and Banners, and the king
takes bin place in the centre. A large
distribution of cowries, tobacco, and
other gifts, is made by the king to the
waiting multitude. Then are brought
forward the victims.
On the occasion when MIR. Forbes as
present, fourteen unfortunate prisoners,
Attahpahms, ware thus produced. The
prisoners were dashed hand and foot, and
tied in small canoes and baskets, dressed
i'm clean white dresses, with high red
caps, and were borne above the heads If
the people to the platform They met
the gaze Of their murderers with cool
ness which was truly astonishing. Ten
OF these human offerings, with an alliga-
tor and cat, were guarded by male
soldiers; the other four by amazons.
Three or four Of these poor victims
were ransomed by Dir. Forbes and Mr..
Beeeroft; but the rest could not be
saved. Immediately under The royal
stand stood seven or eight fell rufians,
armed with clubs and swords, grinning
horribly. The victims we're held big
in the mir. and the king made a speech,
Eelling his people that of bis prisoners be |
gave o persion 10 them, as bis father had |
lone. The first was then lowered and
stripped Of his clothes, and the foot of
he basket placed on the psrapst. The
king then lifted the other end. and the
poor creature was thrown forward. Be-
ore he could well have reached tho
yround, clubs and swords from all sides
had done their work. and the body was
ragged 10 pie % some distance, where
was leh for hirds and beasts or prey.
And sons of the assistants IN this brutal
were sccment