Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-02-11
.,.xa. Gazette IL Virginia Advertise
TIE FASHION IN DAHOMEY.

There are other curious things about these
reorle besides their dress. Their houses have
walls Of clay or reeds and sharp pointed sroots
Of straw. The turpiturc consists maluiy OF
wooaes ulattcrs aud stools, which are coored
black by long burial 10 the mud, aud their on-
" light is a Durulug pine knot.
Before the house is usually post, on which
are hung trophies OF The hunt, such as horns
of antelupeS skulls OF aDlmas and men, aud
horrible. to say, dried hands and feet. These
proclaim to the world how great warrior is
the owner, and, 10 part, answer the purposes
that fine houses and clothes do with US.
When Niam- Niam pays visit SO his neigh
bor be carries his Own stool to Sit on, and when
he goes into mouroiug for friend be sbaves
his head aud scattcrs his precious brads, twists
and putfs, to the wind; which certainly shows
sincere grief on his part.
When two friends meet they do not shake
hands, but they join their middle tiogers in
such way that the joints crack, while they
nod at each other, more as if in disgust--as 1t
looks to white man-than in friendly greet
lug.
If they tiud hollow tree in which wild bees
have laid up honey, they at once smoke the
bees stupiei, and eat honey, wax, bees and all.
Indeed, they eat seyeal things that we would
not like The children 10 some parts of Atrl-
ca eat rats and field uce, which they catch by
means of baskets woven in the form OF long
tubes. They are laid fiat on the ground, pear
the mouse holes, and then the httle savages
begin great noise of stamping, shouting, and
cappug of hands. The poor little animals are
frightened, and run into the traps for safety,
aud are easily taken. They are then tied by
the tails in buuches Of dozen or SO, as you
have seen children tic cherries, and bartcred
with each other as choice morSels Sometimes
they use them as bats TO catch cats-rOast cat
being tavorite dish The build small huts OF
twisted reeds, put the mice 10, and cats are at
tracted to the trap ot, course.
The grown people feast on still stranger dict,
such as the bodies of their enemies killed 10
battle, elephant meat, dried till it looks like a
log of wood, dogs and the termites. or white
ants, of which you may have read, and whose
immense cone. shaped houses are SO common 10
Africa.
No important thicg is begun without co.,
saltug certain signs to see if it will be success
full. Some Of these are very curious One Is
to put few drops of water on smooth-top'
ped stool, then take smooth block aud rub
across the stool as though to plane 1t Oft. 1t
the block moves easily, the sign is good; if
hard, the sign is bad.
Another trial is to dose some unfortunate
hen with certain greasy liquid. Ii she dies
the sign is bad. If She gets well it is good.
But the hens are NOT the only sufferers. An
other way to turn ones luck is to seize a
wretched cock, duck him under water many
tunes till he is stiff and senseless, and then
leave him alone. The fate is decided by his
recovering or dying The guilt Of any one ac-
cused or suspected of crime is tried 10 the same
way, aud no one dreams Of suspeciug one
whose signs have shown tavorably.
To protect themselves from the danger and
loss oil fires. they provide no fire engines and
insurance compauies as we do, but hang an
amulet made-ior those who are Mohamme-
dans-of few verses of the Koran, or Moham-
mcdan Bible wrapped in skin, over the door,
which must be admitted is much cheaper
aud simpler way than ours.
Ii a horse or donkey is i'll he is dosed with
raw pork, but human being has for medicine
a few verses of the Koran, made soft in water.
st. Nicholas