The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1897-02-05

and then retired, leaving us TO be re-
called with the tombo.
Next morning we had many people
to see us, and the kings messengers
called for us and took us out to see the
sights OF Benin. We were first shown
over a ''juju" house, the spirit of which
was contained in pile of old guns
which would, l think, be acceptable IN
the Tower of London. fancy that, in
the early days of the discovery OF the
new world, the pioneers, buccaneers,
etc, used to sail down the lights. and
pick up loads of slaves to help to work
their ships If so, this practice would
account for the presence in this out-of-
the-way place of guns which we felt
sure were centuries old. The Benin
people evidently hold them in great
Veneration, as the kings messengers
and krooboys were made to stand out
side the court where they We're, and
only the two white men and the 'juiu"
men We're allowed to see them. Tombo
was produced, and kola nuts, some of
each having been offered to the 'juju''
by being placed in the breaches Of the
rusty old guns: we We're RECALLED with
the rest.
After sitting here some time we were
taken to visit the kings courtyard and
houses. There were many of the
courts, each Of which was dedicated to
some former monarch or defunct mem
Der of the royal family. The entrance
was through a gateway, the frame Of
which was of carved timber, either
Greek pattern or interviewer scrolls.
Once inside, the first objects to attract
attention were the wrought-iron stand
ard lamps These were as much as
twenty feet high, and ornamented with
castings or hammered work. Close by,
on the ground, was basin of bronze
supported on a tripod Of twisted
snakes. I do not for a minute pretend
that the workmanship was as perfect
as that OF the bronze tripod in the
Hippodrome at Constantinopie, but it
certainly was very wonderful, as the
work of Benin black men.
After this we arrived. at the covered
shed which ran along one side. with a
raised floor. The center Of this was
evidently the shrine. Instead of the
carved wood heads, overlaid with
brass, there were eight, nine or ten
heads of cast brass, each supporting a
tooth of ivory some ten feet high, and
covered completely with carvings of
men, horses and crocodiles, in high re-
lief. Between the teeth of ivory were
square-shaped bells of brass, and iron
castings of men on horseback, men in
armor and other things of most
minute and, think, artistic workman
ship. In the center there was usually
one larger head, surrounded by carved
sticks like sceptres, on the top OF
which was loose piece Of wood, which
ratified when the stick was struck on
the ground, and the noise, the king
told us in the evening, caused the
"juju' to approach quickly.
We We're taken to the court dedica-
ted to the late king. Terrible horrors
must have taken place in the Enclosure
during the preceding twelve months
We had heard stories from the Jal1ri-
men Of hundreds of slaves being
caught all over the country, carried uI
| to the capital and slaughtered by the
king, for the purpose of what they
call making his father" and also Ct
| "chopping king" i. e., fulfilling the
rites and ceremonies required before a
new king is considered as properly
seated on the throne. A horrible OBJ
ject close to the gate was q human be-
| ing, lately sacrificed, and row suspend
| ed between two trees. We asked IL he
| was criminal, but were told not al
all; he had been killed for 'juju.' In
one corner Of the court was deep pit
| the mouth of which was covered with
slabs of galvanized iron. This pit was
called iva" and into 1t were thrown
the bodies Of the victims. At present
lit was empty. The bodies were not
left there altogether, but were removed
and burned, and the ashes spread out
on the ground in front of the big
lulu" The fact that we were stand
F, ing in gray ash made us ask cues
tions that elected this information
After a time, when sufficient victims
/ had been sent to keep the dead kine
1 company the pit was closed. 1t was
only in the court dedicated to the late
king that we saw such a pit On thu
other side Of the court was heap o.
bamboo ladders or hurdles, and VIZ
could not quite understand whether
they were used to carry the bodies t.
/ the p1t-m0utn OF as HleaHS OI ue
scent. BY this time we were feeling
somewhat sick, and were glad to mov'
4 on
On reaching another court we fount
the king seated. He wanted to know
why we were in such a hurry to 81
away. If we did not like our presen
house he would find us a better II
fact, he wanted us to make u lonl
stay. We told him nothing woult
please us better, but, unfortunately
the white mans steamer would no
wait for any one, and that we must b.
back in the river. He saw the force Q
this, but was anxious for us to opel
trade at Egwatun. After this h
showed us some of his treasures. TIL
most notable of these was & state ha
made by himself for his father. 1t wa
shaped like some of the helmets be
longing to the Chinese, and was com
posed entirely of coral beads; esti
| mate it's value at over one hundre,
pounds. There were also two coat
made In the same way. Some nativ
tapestry, or needle lace, was wort
seeing He caused to be brought tn
new teeth of ivory which he was hav