The Opelousas courier., 1890-07-19
LAND OF THE AMAZONs.
rHE HORRIBLE ANNUAL MAssA-
Ores IN BAHoMEYs
How: tasArFasy Sr Female warriors is
Recruited-Fetich Worship Domi-
mates E~YerYthing.

G1SV u, k4kS4 "a AA9 - = -. 1
Recruited-Fetich Worship Domi-
mates Everything.
Dahomey is alleged ono to have had
d population of 5000, 900. Its present
4btodpdlstioh il estimated at 900, DOC. The
decrease is due mainly to the enormous
waste of lives in the annual 'Egrand
ceremonies which are a sort of religious
festival lasting two months, and curing
which human sacrifices are offered by the
hundred at once. To aid these horrible
annual raassaeres in depicting the popula-
lion Of the country there has been the
maintenance OF the armies IF anaazons,
6umbefing, it is alleged, as many as IT,
B06 women: ,t.s:, -
The decrease Of the population has OF
late years sd reduced the available raw
material for the annual slaughters for
recruiting the amazons that the Kings OF
| Dahomey have had to carry their raids
far into The kingdom of Porto Novo to
gather in victims enough. France, being
the esprotector'' of Porto Novo, began to
! object to these raids, which were inter
| fering seriously with the commercial
value of the kingdom to the French, ana
last hummer sent NJ. Jean Bayou, the
Lieutenant-G Governor at Porto Novo, to
Abomev, the capital of DahomeY, to see
King Kondo about the matter. kondo
is d Young man who has had the beneht
| Of an education id France: He had tnen
lust succeeded to his father, Gle-Gle,
Who was as reasonable as any mai who
INDUCES in wholesale slaughter for tWo
months out of every year, and maintains
an army of amazons, could be expected
to be. Kondo turned out to be a differ
ent sort of o fellow. Lieutenant-Gover
nor Bayol arrived at Abomey at a good
time. The ssgrand ceremonies" were
under way, and for the whole W months
of November and December that he was
there he had to witness daily the slauggh-
ter Of the victims. He protested in the
name Of his Government against the raids
upon peaceful Porto Novo villages and
the carrying away Of the inhabitants for
victims for the massaercs. Fol answer
King Kondo behsaded $50 persons be-
fore the Frenchman's eyes. Mr.. Bayols
own life was in danger, or he thought 1t
was. and he who had ON to dictate
terms found himself obliged to do the
treating himself. The King demanded
French recognition of his sovereign
~ over Porto Novo and various othel
concessions. Mr.. Bayol promised every
ching and succeeded in getting safely ou'
Of the Kings reach aud back to Porte
lNoyo. His Government promptly repu-
dated his promises and prepared to pun
ish King Kondo.
Kondo, however, in February took il
into his head to do some furnishing him
self. He came down with his amazon
army from Abomey and took possession
! Of Whidah. Most of the whites escapee
, but five, including M. Etienne Bontemps
! 4 young mar thirty-two years old, who
, aad been at Whidah since 1886 as mana
ger of the trading post and French Con
yular agent, and Father Dorgere, a prizes
much beloved in the country, fell int
: he hands of the natives aud have beel
; sept prisoners since. They have bee
, heard of once or twice in enduring grea
: aardships, but for some time no wor
concerning them has been received, AM
it is feared that they have been killed.
] From Whidah Kondo and his arm
9 went to Godomey, a little further alon
Y The coast toward Kotonou, cutting th
9 latter mort off from communication wit
! The mainland and threatening to captur
q it also. It was reinforced and strength
+ sned to meet the attack, butKonda seen
to have preferred to march directly o
ui,Porto Novo, and has appeared within
,hurs distance of that town and give
battle to the French forces. The BATH
have been fierce and bloody, and hui
lreds Of the Kings warriors, male an
female. are said to have been killet
while the French admit that fifty OF the
roops have been wounded. Kondo ca
better afford TO lose five times i've hnl
lred soldiers than the French can ln
ffty. for the French forces althgether'ff]
not more than a few hundred, not i
,ludine. of course, their native allie
while the army Of Kondo numbers pro-
IDLY 1000 or 5000, and can be increase
10 10, 900, or even more.
~ ~ wv 0l16 GIlGSG GYGuLS law joy s0Aa
place on the coast other forces OF Il
King have been marrying the inland 20
ion of Porto Novo, devastating a va
|. extent Of rich country, and killing
saking captive thousands of the inha
:. tants. Altogether the condition OF q
fairs is such as to make King Tofa, Il
able-bodied and intelligent native wi
: rules over Porto Novo, wonder wheth
a French tsproteetion'' really protects, al
s imagine that he might have Worri,
along as well by himself.
F. OF course, the final issue of the aft
vii he the defeat of Kondo and
smazons, but it will probably take Q go
! zeal more French blood and treasr
Z, ? than the French would care to spend
! brutal native and an army OF women,
!, they had any choice about it. IL CT
!. England over 81, 000, 600 and many liz
L TO subdue Ashantee. a native kingde
q included in its section of the slave Goa
I'm The downfall Of King Kondo, II
work is at all thoroughly done, will g
1t the same time the supremacy Of 9 q
e greater power, for, great and absolute
u i Kondo, there is agreater in Dahome
FIR the real ruler Of Dahomey is
fetch. Belief in the power of the feti
S q IS absolute. The King himself, whetl
he believes in it or not, must respect
for death is the penalty for disrespect
ack the fetch. Kondo's grandfather, She
ta's was sskiiled by the fetch" because
showed a disposition to cut down
lumber of victims at; the annual sae
aces. Gle-Gle, bis father, very lik
Do;sor IL xha ,,S