Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1894-12-26

jesty to adopt Partisan styles. The
only ornaments further adorning his
/ person a re pair of silk and felt san,
dals, white silk cap. and distiguring
silver nose muzzle fastened to the tenn.
Piles like an fashioned pair of spec.
taoles The muzzle proper is a perfor-
ated plaque of silver. which is worn to
prevent strange atmosheric bodies and
dust from finding their way into the
august nostrils of the exalted person
age. He is rarely seen without smok-
ing his long silver pipe. which never
leaves his mouth unless he has been
presented by the Europeans with box
of fragrant cigars.
1t is the task of one of his wives to
keep his pipe clean and to fill it at
short intervals With his exceedingly
Incorporate indulgence in smoking and
drinking it is astonishing how he can
maintain his great strength. He is a
finely built fellow. a little less black
than the majority of his subjects. but
like all of them his hair is kinky, his
beard poor and scattered, and his mus.
tache a hopeless failure. So long as
his placidity remains undisturbed there
is nothing disquieting in his open
countenance, but as soon as things 60
wrong the dark face assumes an i'll
boding frown. and the little black eyes
sparkle wiokedly, when it is best to be
out Of reach of his fury.
Agoliagbo's favorite spouses serve at
the same time as his body servants.
One of them is compelled to always
carry a cuspidor. for his Majesty does
"a heap of splitting" every day. An
other one of his beloved has the privi-
lege to clean the tobacco juice and
otherwise favored saliva that gathers
around his royal mouth. Others must
wash and keep his breast clean, mana
cure his hands and feet, carry his par
asol. etc.
Notwithstanding all this. writes
DR.. Alquier. "Agoliagbo has been de-
prived of much of the pomp and glory
that characterized his despotic prede-
cessors. !"
France has paid dearly for its pos
session of Dahomey. The campaign
against Behanzin cost 8. 900, 900 francs.
and several millions more have been
expended to put the land in lucrative
shape. All during the year 1892
Behanzin continued to make 1T hot for
General Dodds and his army. and it
was only after the latter had returned
with Colonel Dumas from France
with large e-enforcements that the
coast blockade, which had lasted six
months. could be raised. At last all
the chiefs and fetch men, who had
rallied to the support of Behanzin,
surrendered. Their arms. four Krupp
cannons. a machine gun, and 460 maya
zine rifles, were taken from the Da-
homeyans.
Since the conquest there occurred
sedition during the months of April
and May of this year which resulted in
the devastation and burning of many
French strongholds. DR.. Alquier,
who accompanied Lieutenant Benoit in
charge of detachment of infantry,
writes that so far as he could see per
manent peace has been restored. A
seven days journey in Dahomey has
convinced him that the natives are dis
posed to relinquish some of their bar
barous and warlike practices. On
reaching Abomey, the capital and royal
residence. dreary sight greeted them.
Ruins dire all around them. Incen-
diary conf1agrations had laid low near
ly all structures patterned in accord
ance with civilized architecture. The
greater part of the Simbodji palace was
also in irreparable ruins. But there
are now brighter prospects. New
buildings are erected over the old ones.
The old battle grounds are now bloom
with maize. The highways and village
roads are full of life. Everywhere are
met groups of Dahomey girls, carrying
their water jugs or provision baskets
ON their heads. saluting you politely
with an "Okou, dadi?'' (How do you
do, sirD The noise of the tom-toms
has dispelled the doleful silence of the
past two years.
In order to assume some prestige the
King often visits the French camp.
Then the guard invariably presents
arms and the clarion calls out the gar
rison for parade in his honor. This
proceeding fatters his egotism, and at
the same time, impresses his subjects,
whom the French can control better
through his agency.
The Caucasian race has gained sure
footing also in this remote region and
the aborigines here are fated like the
American Indian, and ultimately all
races, to succumb to the universal
amalgamation.