Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1892-07-08
cRuELrrEs OF pAHoMEY.
frequent Expeditions In Search of Human
Victims for tn, Sacrifs@.

frequent Expeditions In Search OF Human
Victims for tho sacrifss.
Tho slave trade is becoming more
precarious not only because OF the
surveillance of the English and French
ships OF war. but because the devel-
opment OF the oil industry demands
large force of laborers for the har-
vesting OF the nuts and the prepare
ton OF the Oil On tho other hand
tho neighboring tribes OF Dahomey.
the reserve for the kings raids are
not as numerous IS they were. More
over they frequently receive protec-
ton from the Germans and English in
the neighboring settlements from the
raids OF Bedagin. who after the grand
ceremonies OF each year recruits his
forces from the neighLoring pro-
vinccs.
After the ceremonies at Abomey
are closed and the ambassadors have
returned to their countries the natives
in the border countries know that
trouble is in store for them. says u
letter in the New York Tribune. The
inhabitants OF some peaceful village
suddenly awake to find themselves the
prisoners OF King Bedazin. The
troops are stationed at the highest ele-
walton in the village where they
shoot those who offer resistance and
capture any of the inhabitants that at
tempt TO escape The prisoners are
bound. their elbows tied behind their
backs by one cord, their wrists fas-
tened by another and their feet tied
together.
Around the necks OF the women and
children is tied single cord as a
mark of slavery. The raid over the
band rejoins the army OF the king and
the slave chasers return TO Abomey
where several OF the unfortunates are
/ sacrificed in honor OF the cruel god
| who has blessed this excursion. Be-
! fore killing the prisoners the fetch
worshiper whispers to the victim TO
! carry Gele-l e messages from his worthy
son and to give an account OF his vic
! tories. The poor wretch who smiles
at his murderer answering that he
will fulfill the commission, knows that
! his death will be made triae less
! painful. that is TO say. his tender
! hearted murderer will stun him with
a blow on the back of the head before
breaking his neck.
The prisoners OF war are divided
into several lots some OF whom are
retained for the plantation OF the king.
others being assigned to the chiefs oil
the tribes for the same purpose, while
the greater portion are imprisoned
awaiting their purchasers. A high
court officer the chief OF justice, is
placed in charge over them. He Is al
The same time director OF criminal
affairs. chief murderer. and master oil
ceremonies in tho thanksgiving offer
lngs The captives are disposed oil
at Abomcy in exchange for gold, sill
YER ivory leather cloth or any arti-
Gle of commerce which the king may
happen 10 need. The slaves are
driven from one station to another In
the dreary march across the country
by mounted Arabs
They are sent from Whydah TO the
seacoast whore they embark for theiI
new destination. Maxine CarvalhC
Is one OF the principal purchasers o
slaves lie employs them in the
",a1andas' or coffee plantations o
Brazil. and reports that they soon for
get their miseries singing the pro
vincial melodies TO the accompani
meat Of the mandolin. Carvalho
singing TIE same negro dittieS will
charm NC insouciance. almost succeeds
in convincing his audience that he i,
doing charitable act by dealing IL
| ,lnvea