Wilmington daily gazette., 1873-08-27
savage Life in Arrical.
HUMAN SACRIFICES ,GND FlrE E1NAhoNs IN
DAHOMEY.


An Englishman, Mr. j. A. Sketchly, has |
just returned from, DahOmey, on the west |
coast OF Africa, and is now furnishing somo |
interesting Illustrations from his sketch-Dook |
to the Illustrated London Mems: ~
For six months Mr.. Sketehly was The guest
Of the King, by whom he was Hospitality treat
ed. lie Is the only white manthat has been
admitted into tho private apartments Of the
King There is no town in DahomeY. The
capital is merely one of the royal palaces, with
official residences for the high officers and the
servants; while the AmaZonS reside within the
palace in long, barn-like buildings immediate
ly outside and surrounding the Kings private
apartments At each of his nine palaces there
are four Thousand of these AmaZOns. Before
Mr.. Sketchly was admitted to the palace he
went through ceremOnials lasting three days.
during which he was created prince of the
| royal blood "a duke, and general OF the army,
bus not Of the AmaZOns. He was then per-
mltted TO see the various customs, He was
an eyewitness to the grand annual cerefnOni-
/ al when the principal human sacrifices take
place. For the sacrifice called the Men-hoo-
who, the Ring ttecliues on q Vidker1V orlK
lounge In his palace. lie weafs only a blue
cotton robe, as he considers his dignity so
/ great that he can afford to dress in ordinary
clothing. Neither the King nor the members
OF the royal family ever dress in gaudy attire.
Above the Kings head an umbrella is extend
ed, and this Is gorgeous with scarlet, blue and
yellow fixtures, cut with knife from velvet,
silk and damask. The Amazons sew the
pieces together so as to form emblematic de-
vices. The bird is Indicative of royalty. None
but the princes of Ddhomey are allowed to
adopt it. The top of the umbrella is surmount
led by q wooden Orpameut, representing a mar
with bird ln his hand. The AmazOns are
seated round the king Between them anC
the people number of bamboo rods are plac
} ed in line on the ground Any man whit
crosses one of these rods suffers immediate
death. Soldiers bringin the yictims-slaFe
ItakensiA Wariand generally cid meh. The!
: are gagged by means of stick with gras
rope wrapped round it, which fills up tn
whole mouth, and Is tied at the back Of tn
lhead. Their hands are fastened together, an
they are firmly bound to baskets, which ar
carried on the soldiers heads. Their bOde
n are entirely naked, save single cloth arOun
h the lOins. COnical hats are kept on their head
II until just before deeapitatiOn. ...
n The prime minister lies PROSTATE, and re
n eevRS in that position q message from til
't King to the victims. This message is to
b carried to the father OF the present King, VIII
l. died about Aine years ago. For their subsiS
! tence on the way he gives them each bOtt
'e Of rum and head Of cOwries. The men al
q then taken to a platfoahl twenty feet high
s. an adjacent courtyard; there they are ca
q headlOng, still bound to their baskets. I'll
is executiOneTs then cut off their heads ami e
10 hibit them attic people after which they a
placed on wooden affairs to ornament the pala
gate. lnIe6 ubyS dlJtIWdIlS lho hoduS ~
taken within the palace where they are clea
m ed by the AmazOns, and are then used +
he State drinking cups, ornaments for drum
n fqgstaffs and other purposes. The bodies
a. the victims are dragged by the crowd throul
eT the market place, and are finally thrown in
ps a ditch outside AbOneg,i where the hYen
soon make short work of them ThOuSan
n of skeletons are in this ditch, but not sinl
ss- skull. The men appear to have no fear
by death. Mr. lSRetcAly states Stat he has 4
is qnently looked into mans face just at
or, moment when he was about to have his he
nd cut OF; and not q muscle seemed to ipdpcI
9" either emotion or fear. The present King
tic more mercitul than his predecessors were.
ON is endeavoring to reduce the fearful sacrihc
we of human life entailed upon him on his 81
cessiOn to the throne by the customs OF
country. He generously spares the lives
lst halt the number Of victims intended for sat
he flee. NOwOnaeA are ever titled TOR saerth
led although they, like the men, are brought
os- on the heads Of the AmaZons, to be carr
ne. arOu nd the courtyard.