The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-08-22
DOWN IN DAMOMEY.
How the Blood Thirsty king Disposes Of His
Captiyes.

Captives.
Capt. Stewart tephcps in Pail Mall Budget.
Two or three DAYS ago the papers announced
that his Majesty of Dahomey had sent an army
IL. coo strong, including the famous Amazon
corps, into the French protectorate of Porto
Novo-whlch adl0ins our Lagos dependencies
and that they had destroyed some dozen villages
and trading stations killed all the elder inhabi-
tants and carried away for sacriicial purposes
l,000 young men, women and children. The
French government have, we are told demanded
information on the subject from the colonial au-
thorltles las this news comes from theirconsular
authority at Lagos, ard not from Porto Novo
1t looks not unlike as if no official were left
to answer questions at the latter place. but, OF
course. reply is not expected for some time
AS there is no telegraphic communication with
the Gulf Of Guinea. Few people know of the
sufferings endured by the population Of the
lower and western part of the great Yoruba
country, from year to year caused by the annual
raids made by the Dahonians. From the
boundary of their territory to the walled town
of Abeokuta-the capitalize distance is, as the
crow flies about eighty five miles Of land. To
the south lies the territory Of Porto Novo. Ado
Ota and Badagry the town from which the
Lander brothers started on the expedition which
ended in the discovery of the outlet of the Niger
the whole extending north and south about
SIXTY miles This gives an area of nearly 1000
square miles of land inhabited by an agricultural
people the country which to a great degree
supplies the trade Of Cages, the Ijehu districts
III the east being as yet only open on its coast
line. The most Gep!orable results ensue from
the now annual inroadS Of the DahoDians into
this territory
Only two years ago the Dahomian hordes
hunted Ioruha Up and dovn-refusees from
Ota arrived by the score in Iagos-until they
finally poGnced on two villages in the Klein couu-
try. which they completely sacked, and returned
with the usual string of cartives destined for
human sacrifice OF course. as may be imagined
the loss arising from those raids is rot by any
means confined to the people who first to
suffer, but the trade of Lagos, the "L;verpool Of
West Africa whether as regards that done in
direction oe Porto Novo, Abeohuta, or Badacry
suffers most seriously.
The system of 'Warfare' followed by the
Dahonlians is the usual barharous of sur
prise When the king declares war-a for
mahtv which he carefully observes year after
year-Ee rarely tells even the chief ''caboceers"
the name of the town he intends
to attack, The army, marches out,
so Of It's unhappy objective point silence at pain
OF instant death is enioined and no fires are
permitted to be lighted. All straggiers are taken
prisoners, and the army is led through road
cut through the busl,, and not along the regular
highways. The town is surrounded in dead Of
night, and just before daybreak rush is made
and every man. woman and child not killed in
the melee is captured, if possible. and sent to
the Dahom,au capital Abomey where some
grace the succeeding custom annual sacrificia
ceremonies). and others are sent as slaves to
distant parts Of the kingdom. Cannibalism or
something that approaches it very nearly, enters
into the rites Of the ninth or concluding cere
mony Of the yearly custom Four men, known
as he nendutou or cernbals each furnished
with sharpencd sucks by way of fork ana knife
are stationed in front of the platform from
which the victims. are thrown before decapi
tation. Wien the first captive is beheaded
they take the body and cut OFF pieces Of flesh,
which they rub with pain! oil and roast over
fire kindled in the square before the platform
The human flesh is then sho vtred on the pointed
Sticks and carried round before the crowd, after
which these 1iends parade around the state
prisoners and 60 through the action Of eating
the siekcning morsels. They chew the human
meat before the terrified captives, but do not
swallow it; ard when they have worked upon
the fears of the poor wretches for sufficient
time they retire and splitting out the chewed
flesh, take strong native medicine, which acts as
an emetic; and it is to be sincerely hoped that
the dose is by means stlnted. Does it not
seem difficult to realize that in this year Of
grace. 1885, sc aJrocious a monarchy as favors
such horrors as these exists and has its being
within few miles of territory living under our
influence and constantly visited by our repre-
sentative from Lagos!