The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1884-12-20
IN AFRICA.
Terrible Picture of Cruelty PracticCd
by the Fetish Priests -CannIbalism
and slavery.

| ana slavery.
Rev. Ferdinand Meshini and Rev.
William Connaughton arrived lately
rom Africa, where they have been con-
erting the natives along the Gold
oast, around the White Nile, and in
ne Soudan. Father Meshini, speaking
I the inhabitants of the west coast of
frica, says:
"The disposition of these people is so
Mid 1t is mystery how they can in
ulge in the practice of the cruelties,
uch as human sacrifices, for which they
lave become famous. The missionaries
elieve but that for the fetish priests,
Who are exceedingly shrewd and who
rave a strong interest in perpetuating
he bloody sacrifices, as their power is
based on them, the country could be
easily civilized. Under the reign of
Gnezo, the late King of Dahomey, human
sacrifices had become comparatively
rare; but his successor, Grery, a slave
to the fetish priests, has revived them,
and now they are practiced with greater
cruelty than ever. The number of
slaves who annually perish in this way
is estimated at several hundreds. The
King of Dahomey is, as is known, the
most ferocious and powerful ruler in the
ghole region. During ten months in
he makes incursions into
( az leighboring territories, captur-
ing large number of slaves. In. this
work he is chiefly assisted by his two
celebrated regiments of Amazons. The
prisoners taken during these expeditions
are divided into three classes. One
class is sold to the slave merchants Of
the interior, another, chiefly women,
are fattenedand sold to butchers, who,
revolving as he fact may be, even to re-
late, openly sell human flesh in their
shops. The bird class is reserved for
the sacrifices which take place in August
and September, during the celebration
of the Grand Customs. These cere-
monies have double purpose: Pacify-
ing the god OF war Oguan, and other
deities; recalling the memory of dead
Kings, and sending them supplies OF
men and provisions.
Among these savages exists a belief
that man passing into the future life
takes with him all that is placed in hi
grave. For this reason, in Dahomey
as in other savage countries, victims and
prisoners are placed in the tomb. Not
long since the King of Porto-Novo dice
on-administered to him by {
rival for the throne. The funeral cerc
mbnies lasted nine days. During the
| Il - Of
destined for the Grand Customs, wert
sa crifced every nightin the fetish forest
The missionaries living in the neighb0r
| in g huts could hear the cries OF tn,
! sufferers, whose mutilated bodies, ar
ranged in lines, We're seen every morn
in g in the public square of the town
The heads had been cut off and naile
along the walls of the palace
AT eight O'Clock in the morning of tn
Inth day The new King and hi
suite, preceded by his fetish priests
n owed in procession to the sacred WOO
where the grave of the late King ha
been dug. The sacrifice began. Sevel
slaves were killed and their blood mike,
] -litSearth to form kind of plaste
with which the grave was lined. Tn
heads of the seven victims, with food Q
all kinds, were deposited at the bottom
The body of the King was next lowere
into the grave. Then were seen ap
preaching nine of his women, draped il
their brightest colored garments an
purposely intoxicated with British 'tatia
or rum. Believing themselves to be tn
object of homage they cast smiles O
every side as they passed through tn
throng On reaching the edge of tn
open grave they were made to knee
and before they had any suspicion the
were stunned by blow on the head an
flung, still alive, upon the body of the
royal spouse. Earth was then throw
in to cover both living and dead.
short distance from the grave a stak
was prepared for the burning of tn
ministers, but these astute politician
dressed slaves in their robes of Office
and while the poor creatures were PEE
ishing made their escape. The sacr
fees to the gods are marked by create
and more varied refinement of err
city. The shrines resemble dos
houses - appropriate dwellings &c
their idols, which are hideou
looking monsters. These ceremonit
begin with a dance. In front of tn
shrine a circle is formed by the leader
of the people sitting down, while til
rude multitude remain standing Hole
ing tuft of human hair in his hand,
priest dances in the center, the circl
uttering savage cries, clapping hand
or playing wild instruments resemblin
bells, tambourines and cymbals Dul
ing the night the fetish priests provid
the god with one or more victims. TIL
most common form of sacrifice
Ogunn, the god of war, is to behea6th
human offering and nail the body "
side down to tree, the head place
above the feet.
4 .. 3 "A---other times a young tree
stripped of its branches, bent down b
means of a rope, and SO held by kin
of trigger. With the exception of tn
head the victim is inclosed in wicke
work globe and suspended, head dow
ward, or his head is incased in tn
stumps of the leaves which form tn
crown of the palmtree. The prie'
loosens the rope, the tree springs bach
and the victim is left swinging in til
air. Birds of prey soon dispose of I'll
body"
Besides the missions among thes
idolaters the f. theirs seek to plant til
doctrines of Christianity in Egypt. 81
oil r s.,l,. rI,.l1