The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1885-02-28
IN AFRICA.
A Terrible Picture of Cruelty Practiced
by the Fetish Priests -Cannibalism
and slavery.

W liliam Connaughton arrived lately
from Africa, where they have been con-
verting the natives along the Gold
Coast, around the White Nile, and in
the Soudan. Father Meshini, speaking
of the inhabitants of the west coast of
Africa. says:
The disposition of these people is 50
mild it is mystery how they can in
dulge in the practice of the cruelties,
such as human sacrifices, for which they
have become famous. The missionaries
believe but that for the fetish priests,
who are exceedingly shrewd and who
have strong interest in perpetuating
the 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, slave
to the fetish priests, has revivedthem,
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 ferocous and powerful ruler in the
whole region. During ten months in
the year he makes incursions into
the neighboring 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 fattened and sold to butchers, who,
revolving as the fact may be, even to re-
late, openly sell human flesh in their
shops. The third 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 Ogunn, and other
deities; recalling the memory of dead
Kings, and sending them. supplies of
men and provisions.
among these savages exists belief
that man passing into the future life
takes with him all that is placed in his
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 died
of Observation-Disclosures to him by a
rival for the throne The funeral cere-
monies lasted nine days. During the
whole of this time numbers. of victims,
destined for the Grand Customs, were
sacrificed every night in the fetish forest.
The missionaries living in the neighbor-
ing huts could hear the cries OF the
sufferers, whose mutilated bodies. ar
ranged in lines, were seen every morn
ing in the public square of the town.
The heads had been cut off and nailed
along the walls of the palace.
At eight o'clock in the morning of the
ninth day the new King and his
suite, preceded by his fetish priests,
moved in procession to the sacred wood
where the grave of the late King had
been dug. The sacrifice began. Seven
slaves were killed and their blood mixed
with earth. to form a kind of plaster
with which the grave was lined. The
heads of the seven victims, with food of
all kinds, were deposited at the bottom.
The body of the King was next lowered
into the grave. Then were seen APP
preaching nine of his women, draped in
their brightest colored garments and
purposely intoxicated with British 'tafia,
or rum Believing themselves to be the
object of homage they cast smiles on
every side as they passed through the
throng. On reaching the edge of the
open grave they were made to kneel,
and before they had any suspicion they
were stunned by blow on the head and
flung, still alive, upon the body of their
royal spouse. Earth was then thrown
in to cover both living and dead. A
short distance from the grave stake
was prepared for the burning of the
ministers, but these astute politicians
dressed slaves in their robes of Office,
and while the poor creatures were per-
ishing made their escape. The sacri-
fees to the gods are marked by greater
and more varied refinement of cru.
city. The shrines resemble dog
houses = appropriate dwellings fol
their idols, which are hideous-
looking monsters. These ceremonies
begin with dance. In front of the
shrine circle is formed by the leaders
of the people sitting down, while the
rude multitude remain standing Hold
ing tuft of human hair in his hand, a
priest dances in the center, the circle
uttering savage cries, clapping hands
or playing wild instruments resembling
bells, tambourines and cymbals. Dur
ing the night the fetish priests provide
the god with one or more victims. TIL,
most common form of sacrifice t.
Ogunn, the god of war, is toSbehead tht
human offering and nail the body up
side down to tree, the head placed
above the feet. ~
''sAt other times a young tree ]:
stripped of its branches. bent down by
means of rope. and SO held by kind
of trigger. With the exception of the
head the victim is inclosed in a wicker
work globe and suspended, head down
ward, or his head is incased in tn,
stumps of the leaves which form the
crown of the palmrree. The prizes