The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-04-08
his OWN ExECUTIoNER-
A Chief Who Inflicted the Death
Penalty He imposed.

| from the Cftc0gO beTdld.
II you 90 down to French Guiana and
ascend the big Maroni river little distance
| you will find great many negroes who
talk very bad French. Some Of them, how
ever, have visited Franco, and have little
| education. The more Intelligent of these
| negroes Will tell you that the greatest man
who ever lived, except the frat Napoleon,
was BonL One of these negro tribes is
called the Boni, from the name OF the man
who released the people from slavery.
Boni was the intelligent and audacious
negro who, in 1772, revolted agaInse his
master on the coast Of Dutch Guiana, de-
strnyed his property, escaped with hun
dreds OF other slaves and founded a new
home for the people he piloted to the Dor
| ders OF French Guiana. For many decades
all slaves who escaped from their masters
were able to find their freedom among the
Bonis. A curious story is told about Boni
by the explorer, Henry Coudreau, who has
done so much to make the interior of
French Guiana known.
long distance up the Maroni river is the
Island OF Adlafo, which means cutting off
the head" This is the island where, for a
long time. Boni carriedIout the execution OF
criminals whom no had condemned to
death. The curious feature OF his system
OF capital punishment was that he required
no assistance whatever in carrying his
judgments into effect. He alone escorted
the condemned persons to the Island Of
Adlafo, and, unaided he cut off their heads.
The Spartacus of the negroes OF the
woods" seemed to be particularly fond of
this sort of exercise. Physically he was the
most powerful man in his country. No
one dared Co cope with him in combat.
When he had prisoner whom he had
condemned he would place bis fint-lock and
MS saoer In canoe, seat the condemned
So Ill i
Ole up stream several miles to the island.
He would not have even boatman with
him on these little expeditions.
Now" Boni was wont TO say to the I'M
happy wretch before him, as he padded
along, do not attempt 10 escape, for il you
do shall surely stop YOU by bullet in the
legs | shall not shoot to kill you for l
shall wish to torture you after get you"
mo, cher, the trembling victim would
often reply, II shall not attempt to escape"
And such was the terror Boni inspired that
the unfortunate prisoner would reach the
place Of punishment probably without en-
tertalning the slightest thought OF escaping.
When they reached the island Boni would
tell his prisoner to get out of the canoe and
would then march him to the place of ex-
ecution. This was large fat rock,
washed by the waters Of the rapid river
and shaded by a tamarind tree. The rock
is still shown to every one who visits the spot.
When they reached the place, Boni, fierce
and inexorable. would sternly command:
Now you die To your knees. Your
hands behind your back. Hold down your
head"
The unfortunate wretch, more dead than
alive, would mechanically obey the order.
Boni would raise his saber, and with one
sure stroke would sever the head from the
body. The head would fall upon the fat
stone and the blood would be washed away
h. Il
now and then overspread the rock. Boni
would then re-embark and upon his re-
turn his people would regard him more
than ever as a terror to evil-doers.