The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-01-03
BEHEADED FOR A MISSTEP.

How King Bedazin of Dahomey Punished
One of the Royal Dancers.
De COurville, the French Envoy, thus de-
scribes his first interview with the King of
Dahomey:
Amazons in their white uniforms were
hurrying about; troops of slaves escorted
men over whose heads were held golden UNI
brellas, and whose lower limbs bore the blue
garter, the Dahomeyan badge of nobility.
All were converting toward low and large
building in the center Of the town, whose
whitened walls contrasted with the palaces
OF cane and hardene d mud surrounding it,
and in which dWelled the aristOcracy of Da-
honey. Tie low building was the residence
OF ROYALTY Not more tuan twelve feet In
height, and constructed of sand brick plas-
tered over, it was nevertheless extensive and
conmodlous, being quadrangular in form and
extending about 200 feet On each side, in
closing an ample courtyard. De Courvllle
was escorted into the courtyard and there.
he says, he met sight the grotesqueness
of which Will haunt him as long as
he lives. On chair, or throne, covered
with lions skin and shaded by an umbrella
OF gold and silver, sat Bedazin, the
chair being on platform raised about two
feet above the level of the yard. On each
side OF the throne stood powerful Amazon,
carrying drawn in the left hand short,
heavy sword with bright, keen edge.
About the KING were ranged a score or mere
of his chieftains. On the opposite side of
the yard was another platform, raised at
least three feet. Along the edge of this plat
form were limitations of lamp-shades, or re-
Electors, as II some one had tried to devise a
theatrical stage as closely as possible under
the circumstances. On the stage some
twenty women were leaping aud dancing
with all the suggestiveness of the can-can,
but without the inimitable FrenchIness,
which has made that performance attractive
to many. The women were handsome
negresses, evidently from the royal harem.
and they seemed to treat the dance as a
| compulsory duty that could not be over too
| soon. They had manifeStly been trained to
the performance, and handled their heels
remarkably well considering their limited
| opportunities for satisfactory rehearsal.
The King received DE Conrville as an old
| friend and caused a stool to be brought for
him to sit down on The Frenchman had
hardly been seated when one of the dancers
made mlsstep. The King was swift to no
Tee It, lie said nothing, but with his right
hand made peculiar sign to the AmaZOns
not unlike the police verso" of the ancient
Romans which condemned the unlucky
| gladiator. The two guards strobe swiftly to
the stage. They seemed TO know by instinct
who was indicated. Selling young, hne-
looking woman among the dancers, they
dragged her from the platform and before
| she could utter Shrek she was beheaded,
the head rolling almost to the feet of the
| hlng. The dancing went on just as if moth
! Ing had occurred the remaining dancers not
daring even to notice the fate of their COM
panlon. Bedazin was no doubt secretly
| french Envoy, for few minutes later he
| arose from his throne and retired TO his
| audience chamber, the performance ceasing
| as soon as his back was turned.