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

in less than from four to ten months II
will carry 400 soldiers, and its armament
consists of three revolving cannon mounted
on the bridge and four rapid-hring guns on
| the spar deck. If France decides to capture
the capital, Abomey, this light draught
gunboat can approach within a few miles OF
the big town.
This war has been brought about by vio-
lation of pledges on the part of Behanzin.
At the close of the war of 1889, France
made a treaty with the King by which, in
consideration of an annual pension of 20, 900
| francs, he recogu zed Frances rights along
| the coast, and agreed to stop his raids into
| the French protectorate of Porto Novo,
| long the favorite hunting ground of Daho-
meyan rulers for slaves and victims to sac
rifice in their fetch rites. Late last fall
the King violated his agreement by sending
expeditions into Porto Novo, where they
surprised several unsuspecting towns and
dragged hundreds of people to Abomey.
Thinks He Can Beat the French.
When the Lieutenant Governor of the
French colony protested, the King sent an
insolent letter declaring that he recognized
no treaty, that he had right in Porto Novo
because his fathers for ages had been the
suzerains of that country, and that he should
continue his forays if he chose, because all
the region occupied by the French belonged
to him; and yet, as he knew very well, his
grandfather, King Gelele, IA years ago gave
up to France all rights to the port of Koto-
nu, and he himself had recognized Frances
claims in Porto Novo The young man has
since sent word to the French that if they
touch one of his toJns in the interior he
will at once destroy Porto Noyo and all the
French posts. He is carried away with an
idea of his power and the prowess of his
Amazons, and undoubtedly believes he can
drive the French into the sea.
1t has been characteristic of all rulers OF
Dahomey to entertain unduly exalted opin-
IONS of their Importance. When King
Gelele, for instance, heard that Germany
had defeated France. he remarked: why
did not my brother, the Emperor of France,
ask me for aid? 1 could have sent him
soldiers and then am sure he would have
won." Behanzin is the great grandson of
Gese, the most powerful ruler Dahomey
ever had, who reigned between 1918 and
1858.
Behanzin Is a Vain Ruler.
The present ruler is most extraordinary
mixture of civilization and barbarity. The
dominant note in his character is unlimited
vanity. While a boy he spent some time
in Paris, where he learned to read French
To this day he receives his copy of the
OUNtet, WHICH Is DIOuguI lTOul bhS SooSb W
his capital bv special messenger. His
vanity was greatly tickled when he heard
that a session of the French Parliament,
last winter, was devoted Co a discussion of
his august person and kingdom, and he dis
played his qualification BY dancing around
the copy of the 0f5ciI which contained the
news.
In ordinary times the army OF Dahomey
is composed of 2, 900 Amazons and 1000 to
5000 warriors. This is the well drilled,
standing army, which, in peace, is kept at
or near the capital, ready to march any
where at moments notice. When an i'm
portant war is on hand the King calls out
the reserve, which increases the strength Of
his army to 1000 or $4,000. The most
unique features of Dahomey are its
large force of women-warriors and
its terrible system of religious sacrifices in
which hundreds of human victims are
butchered at the capital every year.
The Only Place Where Women Fight
Dahomey is the only country in the world
which makes women part of its military
system In the year 1923 the King. hard
pressed by enemies, placed large number