Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1890-06-07
TIE KING OF WHYDAH.
A Savage Potentate Who Main
tanned O Thousand Wives
how o Bold Native Thwartod the Powor-
nni Authority Of tho Royal narom-A
Chief Whose Family Consisted OF
Thouxands or Members.

yhOuS1n00 or hctnOOtes
Tho King Of whydah's wivos were oh.
jects Of special caro- to himself and OF
enforced vencration b his people. The
favorite ones livod In tho palnce with
him; the others wefc accommodated IN
adjoining buildings No mon were ON
ploycd in tho royal household. and the
King WINS served solely by his wives
When visitors camo to SEQ the King he
received thcm alone, taking good caro-
that his wives wore out OF sight. TWAS,
indeed, held q sacrilego to 30 much as
look at any OF these royal spouSes-
When repairs, which could not be dono
by them, were needed In tho palace,
they migrated from tho affected portion,
and tho plumbers and giazicTs coming
in had to keep on shouting out tho
whole time they were at work, in case
any Of the wives, not acquainted with
tho fact Of their presence, should hap
pen to pass that way. When tho Kings
wives sol out 10 work IN the plantations,
which they did every morning in
patches OF three to four hundred Of o
time, they used to cry 'stand clear," as
they went, and any men who wero
III thoir path Frustrated themselves, and
did not dare to raiso their eyes till they
Ind passed. On account OF tho awe In
which his wives wero held, tho King
found them worry useful and speedy
executive to carry out his commando
II my person was found guilty OF o
crime tho King sent detachment OF his
wives round to the mans house In order
to strip It Of Its goods and pull IL down
This was usually very soon effected, for
on the approach Of tho Kings wives the
man wus unable 10 remain and defend
his property. One instance, however, Is
related by Bosnian, In which o native
was clover and bold enough to thwart
this powerful authority. Hearing that
he had been nccused before the King,
and that company Of tho Kings wives
had been sent TO wreck his house, no
collected all tho gunpowder BIO pos
sessed, and, placing 1t in heap just be-
meath his doorway, no awaited the Or.
rival Of his spoilers, hFe-brund in hand.
When they approached and cried In tho
usual formula, MAKO way for the
Kings wives" nc replied that no would
not stir from tho spot on which he
stood, and II they attempted to cross his
threshold he would blow himself and
oil Of them up together. This threat
brought the good women to halt, and
after consultation among themselves
they determined to return to the King
and inform him of the reception
they had met But their An
tended victim was too quick for
them. Slipping round another way,
no reached the King hrst, end
cleared himself Of the accusation 30
satisfactorily that tho order against him
was countOrmondcd. This attempt
Bosnian remarks, was very bold one.
requiring great nerve to carry 1t through
sncOes sfully, considering that II it had
failed painful death would have been
tho punishment Tho Kings supply Of
wives wus kept up TO the full number By
three Of his chief captains, who had
very little else to do than select and
procure for hira tho most beautiful vtr-
gins. A fresh wife, after presentation,
lived with tho King three or four days,
after which she was relegated to the
quarters occupied by the other wives,
and became, practically, n nun for tho
rest Of Der life, with tho inevitable priv
ilego Of working like q slave on the
KinO's estate. Under these circunl-
stances Il Is not matter OF surprise
that tho honor OF royal alliance was
littlc coveted among Inaidens, some Of
whom had oven boon known to prefer Q
speedy death 70 the distinction. Bosnian
mentions tho story of'O young girl who,
having been selected for this purpose
by tho captains, runaway, and, on being
closely pursued, in hor despair jumped
down o vol and waslilled. al leave her
case" remarks theeGgc historian, ITO 30
determined by the ladies'" When zach
man was 50 we'll provided In respect OF
wives, It wss but natural that his
children should DO proportionatcly
humorous. Bosnian has heard, In several
cases, incredible numbers 0scribcd 70
one man; but doubting-the truth OF tho
statements, ho one day took estde o
chief, on whose word ho-conld rely, and
aslred him 70 tell hira candidly how
many children be himself possessed.
This was evidently tender point With
the chief, for DO seemed paiDed, and at
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