Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1873-09-26
An Artist among the AmazOns of
Africa.

An Englishman, Mr.. j, A. Sketchly, has
just returned from Dahomey, on the We 81
coast of Africa. For six months he was
the guest Of the King, by whom he was We
ry Hospitality treated. He is the only white
man that has been admitted into the private
apartment of the King. There is no town
of 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, Immediately out sides and
surrounding the Kings private apartments
At each OF his nine palaces are four thous.
and Of these Amazons.
Before Mr.. Sket,hly was admitted to the
palace he went through ceremonials lasting
three days. during which he was created q
prince Of the ROYAL blood, duke, and q
general of the army, but not of tie ANA
IONS He was then permitted to see the
the grand annual ceremoaals, when the
principal human sacrifices take place.
For the sacrifice called the Men hoo.who,
the King recllnes on wickerwoIk lounge
in his palace He wears only blue cotton
robe, as he considers his dignity SO great
that be can afford to dress in ordinary cloth
ing Neither the King nor the member of
the royal family ever dress in gaudy attire.
Above the Kings head, an umbrella is
extended, and this is gorgeous with scsret.
blue and yellow figure cut out with knife
from velvet, silk and damask. The ANA
IONS sew the pieces together SO as to form
emblematic devices. The bird is indicative
Of royalty: None but the Princes Of Daho.
mey are allowed to adoptit. The top of the
umbrella is snrmounted by a wooden orna,
ment representing man with bird in his
hand.
The Amazons are seated round the King
Between them and the people number oil
bamboo rods are placed in line upon the
ground. Any man who crosses one Of these
rods suffers immediate death. Soldiers bring
in the victims-slaves taken in war, and
generally old men. They are gagged by
means of stick with grass rope wrapped
around it, which fills up the whole mouth,
and is tied at the back Of the head. Their
hands are bound together, and they are firm.
ly bound to baskets, which are carried on
the soldiers heads. Their bodies are en-
tirely naked save single cloth around the
loins Conical hats are kept on their heads
until just before dec agitation. The PRIME
Minister lies PROSTATE and receives in that
position, message from the King to the
victims. This message is to be carried to
be carried to the father Of the present King
who died about nine years ago. For their
subsistence on the way he gives them each
bottle of rum and head Of cowries. The
men are then taken to platform twenty
feet high in an adjacent court yard they
arc cast head ong still bound to the baskets.
The executioners then cut off their heads
and exhibit them to the people /; after this
they are placed on wooden affairs to ornament
the palace gate. Three days after ward the
palace, where they are cleansed by the Am
azons, and are then used for State drinking
cups, ornaments for drums, flag stats, and
other purposes The bodies of the victims
are dragged off by the crowd through the
marketplace, and are finally thrown iuto
ditch outside Attorney, where the hJenas
soon make short work of them. Thousands
Of skeletons are in this ditch, but not sim
gle skull. The men appear to have no fear
OF death Mr.. Sketchly states that he has
frequently looked into mans face just a
the moment when he was about to have MS
head cut aft, and not single muscle seemed
to indicate either emotion or tear.
Tho present King ia more merciful than
his predecessors were. He is endeavoring
to reduce the fearful sacrifices OF human life
entailed upon him on his accession to the
throne by the customs of the country.