Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-07-17

rush upon one of the victims She was
new recruit, had not yer killed anybody,
and it was desired to put her to the test
With her sharp edged sabre, held in both
hands she struck the victim three blows on
the neck, then chopped off the last pieces of
flesh that still held the head to the trunk,
after which she carefully wiped her saber
and retired to the ranks. Alligators, cats
and other animals are also sacrificed to carry
messages to their kind. If Behanzin makes
the French too much trouble during the
coming campaign, they may possibly send
him himself to interview his ancestors.
The Victims Are Usually Criminals.
The victims are invariably criminals or
captives of war collected to make negro
holiday. When Europeans protest with the
Kings Of Dahomey against these terrible
sacrifices they are told that not only does
this slaughter give great satisfaction to the
gods, but also it is the only way to make a
great jail delivery. If they did not kill
their criminals they say it would take too
many soldiers to suppress evildoers.
And yet Dahomey is not people of saw
ages. Under ordinary circumstances the
populace are gentle and easy to influence.
Most of them obey implicitly all the laws
and regulations of their King. They are
fairly industrious and have attained sort
of negro standardization. They represent
one of the finest types of the black race, are
above medium stature, have bright, intelli-
gent faces and powerful physique, and it is
only when engaged in war or in the practice
of their religious customs that they display
remarkable ferocity and fanaticism. The
King is aided in his government by a coun-
Gil composed of his principal chiefs; but in
spite of his ministers and his own nearly
absolute authority, he is still submissive to
the occult power of fetich.
The King Dare Not Look on the Sea.
One curious religious law imposed upon
the King by the fetch priests forbids him
to look upon the sea- This law was doubt
less made to prevent the King from coming
too much under the influence of the white
men, who might persuade him to forget the
customs of his country and overthrow
fetIchism.
The sentiment in France seems to be
against taking possession of the capital
Abomey unless this step is positively neces-
sarv to insure the safety of French inter-
ests. 1t is not improbable, however, that
France will be compelled completely to
subjugate Dahomey before an enduring
peace is secured. The road from Whvdah
to Abomey is only 65 miles, but it is diff
cult route lying through forest and swamp.
If the French advance to the capital they
will very likely approach it by the route
from Whydah, and also send an expedition
up the Wheme river on the new gunboat
Opal Gamma, the sacred city of the coun-
try, is eight miles south of Abomey. A
large part of the army is said to be now at
Gamma, and 5000 of the Kings troops are at
Godome, only a few miles from the coast
Abomey occupies rolling plain nearly sur
rounded by marsh. The city is eight miles
in circumference, and is surrounded by clay
walls pierced by six gates. The population
is $4,000. The French hope to make the
campaign short one, and it is certain that
Dahomey can offer no effective resistance
CYRUS C. ADAMS.