The sun., 1881-01-16

tho natives. The disposition of the people is
dulRein tho crueities such as humkn sacfi-
missionaries believe that but for the feteh
priests. who are exceedingly ehrewd. and have
based on N ere boodg sserSss hs tSs
country could be civilized easily. The Fathers
have uniformly exorted themselves, strongly in
opposition TO these brutal rites, and have often
ciIlly 4 they had been informed in time.
Dahomey. human sacrifices had become com-
paratively rare. but his successor. Greriy, a
syS 10 T,sh pres rn has revived hSm VIII
government have been powerloss 10 check this
slaves who annually perish In this way is esti-
mated at several thousand. The King of Da-
powerful ruler In The Whole 0at reRop psrinG SnG
ton months Of the year he makes iucursions on
ne nTe1 o sny.s to nGh %
,nssS mssss Of a@HI0ns The pT,sopcTs made in
tdu,us Of tho tnteri,23r; and was formerly in:
portion. chiefly women. is fattened and sold to
butchers. who, revoting as thc fact may DO oven
the third poron S Is reserved Sa the human sSs
a, August pn HRd sSSpISmser 9prPg tho eeSbration
have double purpose: that Of pacityinR ogun,
the god Of war, and other deities. and nlso that
sending. to them suppl los OF mon and provi.
slons. There exists q belief among the any-
!I nges that Q man. passing into the future life
For this reason In Dahomey, rs in other savage
countries pr2yisions IRE ere placed in the tomb;
During the past year the King of Porto Novo
died OF poison administered by rivnl for the
whole OF this time considerable number OF
human victims were sacrificed every night 10
the fetish forest, destined for the Grand Gus
toms" The missionaries from their neighbor-
ing dwelling could hear the cries Of the suffer-
morning in tho public square Of tho town ar. ar
ranged in linee; Tho, heads had been cut oil
and nailed along the walls OF the. royal
tie ninth day the the new @ King GO and %liS his Is
suite. preceded by his fetish priests. moved
late King Ind been dug The sacrifice began
Seven slaves were slnin. and their blood was
mixed with earth to form kind of plaster, with
wore deposited OF the bottom. The body Of the
King was then lowered. Next were seen np-
preaching nine OF his women III their brightest
colored garments purposely intoxicated be-
forehnnd with copiops doses Of British taf,d
or rum. They crossed through the thronR. cast
Ing smiles on each side. believing themselves
the objects Of an ovation. When they reached
10 kneel down. stunned with blow on the head
before they had any suspicious. and thrown,
Sill alive. down upon tho body OF their royal
spouse. Earth was then flung In to cover the
whole pile Of dead and living. At a distance OF
y few steps. stake was prepared. There tho
Kings ministers were to be burnt. But these
astute politicians had dressed IN some slaves
in their robes OF Office. who perished in their
stead while they themselves mado good their
escape.
Tho sacrifices to the gods are marked by
greater and more varied refinement Of cruelty.
The form o! the shrines Is that OF a dog house
very appropriate dwellings for such hideous-
looking monsters as their idols are The cnre-
monies begin with dance. A circle ia formed
in front of the shrine by the leaders OF people
sitting down. while the mob remains standing.
The priest dances In the centre. holding II tuft
OF human hair while the circle utter savage
cries. clan their hands. or play some wild in
struments resembling bells. tamhournes and
cymhals. During the night tho fetish priests
provide the god with one or more vctms. The
most common form of sacrifice to the war god
Ogun, Is to behead the human Offering and nail
the body upside down to o tree. with the head
placed above the feet. At other times n young
tree Is stripped OF its branches, bent down by
means OF Il rope, and retained by a kind of
trigger The victim Is either enclosed. with the
exception Of the hcnd. In n wicker work globe.
and suspended head downward. or has his hend
encascl in the stumus OF the leaves which
formed the crown Of the palm tree. The priest
lets the rope go the tree springs hack, and the
man is left swinging in the air. Birds OF prey
coon dispose Of his BODY.
On Sunday evening. Jan. 80. n sacred concert
will be given ia Steinway Hall in aid Of these
African missions. Between tho parts DR.. Nc
Glynn will deliver a'ecture on tho subject.