Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1892-09-30
4 Fight With DahOmevans.

- S far back as 1858
T Captain Frank G. Bon
MH neau, now Of Charles
.WA5 ton, S. c., having
-NTM completed a cruise in
E-IIt#1 the United States
H/I/I3l,AtS--A Navy as secretary to
1-1s----. = u - Commodore Ingraham,
- - ~ and being desirous Of
SSzscSSszsss.= SzcSSszSsSeS.- some active work, OBJ.
tanned the command Of
handsome brig, the Jehosse Of Charles
on, S. c., and under instructions from
he briggs owner made run for the
African coast. Bonneau's account of his
experience on the Dahomeyau coast is
BEST given as told by him to the New
York Times's correspondent.
"It was in 1855" said Donneau,
"while lying with the Jehosse at Cape
Coast Castle, that 1 formed the idea of
running down for a look at the south
vest coast, as that part Of Africa known
Is Dahomey is styled. l was worried
about approaching Porto Novo, the place
ihc French have just bOmbarded, be-
cause of the warlike tribes that infested
ihe whole country in and around that
port. l was told that repeated efforts
had been made to establish palm oil
station at Porto Novo, but that Iuaco
Dus, the head tribesmau Of the country,
had prohibited all nations from even
making a landing. This Iuaco Qua, l
was informed, was the most blood:hirstY
slvage on the coast. 1t had long been
his practice annually to celebrate his
"Yan Feast" By an Inauguration of the
most horrible and bloody tragedies in
honor of the cccss'on. His throne was
built upon the skulls of hundreds of pris-
oners, all murdered in his presence, and
dispatched in a cruel and fendish mau-
ner known so we'll to the brute.
DESPITE the stories l heard of the
Dahomsyans determined to run down
their coast, aud so on one hot morning
at about 10 o'clock was standing in on
the starboard tack with Porto Novo close
aboard. The coast in the vicinity was
rough and high, broken here and there
by deep ravines and marked along its
entire stretch by high crags. In the in
tericr high mountain ranges could be
seen stretching far away to the south
ward and eastward. The wind at the
time was standing in was extremely
light, l made a grave mistake in ap-
preaching suspicious coast under such
conditions. It would have been wiser
had waited for the strong sea breeze
which regularly sprang up later in the
day, coming always from the south
west.
, GAS continued to head in on the
starboard tack shortly made out ahead
three canoes putting out from the land,
each canoe containing twelve or thirteen
men. Fearing nothing from these few
craft, | allowed them to approach the
briggs side and began to question them
about the country. l had au interpreter
aboard whom / secured before making
the present cruise.
"While engaged in questioning the
canoes alongside, my attention was
called by my people to several larger
canoes seen to be approaching from the
shore, each containing no less than
twenty five men, and in one boat in par
ticular appeared to be some officer of
rank.
"The first boats that had approached
made no signs of desire to board the
brig, the fellows in the canoes apparent
ly coutented to keep close up to me for
a look only. But now on the approach
of the larger canoes just observed the
boats lear by pulled right alongside,
aud without further ado every man that
could climbed up over my rail and
jumped on decS. The manner ID which
these fellows landed themselves looked
suspicious. l did not fancy it at all. No
sooner had they planted their feet upon
deck than they began asking as to what
we had TO sell and what we wished to
buy. and then soon followed up their in
ouiries by demands for run, and this
they did without any attempt at asking
for it.
"The sudden. suspicious actions Of
these fellows caused me quietly to pass
word among my crew, and at the same
time saw to it that each man had his
pistol and cutlass ready at hand. ! at
once ordered the briggs wheel put down,
and passed the word to take stations for
tecking ship. To my great relief the
former light breeze was now freshening.
No sooner, though, had ! given the order
to tack then there was a peculiar move
ment discernible on the part of those
who had boarded me, aud at the same
time every canoe about the brig COM
menced pulling in alongside, their in
mates catching hold Of every available