Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1894-12-26
DAHOMEY'S NEW KING.
His DespotiSm Curbed Under
French Suzerainty.
THE M0L0CH WORSHIP 0UTD0NE.
Dark Beauties Minister to His Many
Wants-Wives who Attack and
Murder One Another.
HE MOLOCH WORSHIP 0UTDONE.

disturbances which occurred last month,
everything is lovely and peaceful il
Dahomey at present under the French
protectorate. That is if such a thing
can be said of q country where the
savage aborigines are only cowed into
submission by uniformed supremacy.
The new King seems contented SO
long as he can enjoy his palatial COM
FORTS his female retinue, and his we'll
stocked seraglio of African beauties.
And peace also reigns in the royal
harem SO long as the King lives. This
last phrase must be empasized, and is
quite the opposite of what would be ex-
pected where few dozen aching fem
mime hearts must share the affections of
only one husband. Yet during his life
there occur no disruptions to speak of
in this polygamous household. but as
soon as the King has spent his last
breath pent-up jealousies result in
something more serious than verbal
quarrels and hair pulling. Then all
is tragedy with vengeance. First all,
without exception, indulge in the most
heartfelt and otherwise. After brief
season of ear-deafening walls, means,
and groans, the haremic bellies attack
all the furniture of the palace, smash
ing it into unrecognizable smithereens
Now begins an indesoribable battle
which eliminates in the survival of the
fittest. The women spring upon one
another like hyenas. Many are muir
dered outright, others are manned or
disfgured for life, and the bloody
affray continues until order is restored
by the new King.
Dr. Alquier, the leading physician Of
the colonial health corps, in a CORES
pondence ADDRESSED to "L'Illustration,
Of Paris, sends decription of the new
King, Agoliagbo, and his court. He
has also procured some excellent photos.
One represents his Majesty surrounded
by his favorite wives, and the other
the principal entrance of the Sim bodji
Palace, in Abomey, the old residence
Of the former King. Behanzin. In the
left wing of this palace rises what is
known as the Tower of Sacrifices. "
Here for centuries, until a recent date,
the most disgusting scenes of human
sacrifices and Moloch worship were en-
acted.
Travellers and ENJOYS were compelled
by the despotic rulers to witness their
"customs, and it is stated that these
beastly proceedings are still kept up in
the least frequented interior of the
colony. The reports of those who have
seen the "oustoms" agree il. jail the de-
tails. They all tell that once placed
under the forced hospitality of the royal
court they could not release themselves
from it's tedious etiquette, and the dur
alton of their visit depended entirely
ON the caprice of the King.
The Customs generally occur in
October and last several weeks Hun
dreds of human beings are hurled into
eternity in a most barbaric manner
during this horrible saturnalia. Most
of the victims are subjects in disgrace
or women who have incurred the dis
pleasure of the autocratic ruler. Often
their number is increased by lot of
captives taken in war with neighbor-
ing tribes. After days Of torment and
suffering the miserable wretches are
dressed in long white shirts and caps
and tied into baskets. A crowd of
bulry amazons lift the baskets with
human freight on their heads and
parade up and down the Tower of Sac
rifces in the presence of the shouting
multitude below. Some of the women
carry alligators, cats, and hawks in
their baskets.
Suddenly there is hush. The King
addresses his subjects and in his speech
explains what is now to follow. The
victims in the baskets are to feel the
power of the ruler of Dahomey, and
are to be dispatched to the spirit land
to testify of his majesty and greatness.
At his signal the baskets are thrown
from he rowers in the midst of the
murderous throng, where they are tor
tured and torn limb from limb, men
and animals alike, and all is devoured
but the skulls. The human beings
must bring testimony of the power OF
tu6 hluR W bu0ll hluu anu buO dlhOlCAt
animals to theirs. The skulls are
changed into drinking cups or are ex'
hibited on the palace walls. Most dis
gusting of all is the sleeping-room Of
the King, which is paved with the
heads of his conquered enemies.
King Agoliagbo is a brother of the
departed Behanin. By right the throne
should descend to the youngest son
but when the chiefs of the nation con
slider the young heir unfit as rulel
they may prefer younger brother O.
the King.
On official occasions Agoliagbo drape
his brawny frame with profusion O.
multi -colored silks and satins, Gu
without regard to Partisan fashion
The officers of the French garrison hav
/ n - r.