The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-11-28
TWO AFRICAN MoNARCHs.
Experiences of a French Traveller in
DahOmey and Porto Nova.


DahOmey and Porto Nova.
Public Opinion. i
M. Paul Mimande has recently paid visit
to two dusky potentates ruling under
French control, in West Africa, and gives
a a. description OF his experiences in Il Illus
honey, according to the writer is a decid-
edly antpathetic parsonage. His Majesty
is large, stout negro. with broad, flat
nose and sly, treacherous expression. On
ceremonial occasions he wears a sort of
toga of white cloth and pasteboard helmet
covered with some spangled material This
costume, although sufficiently absurd, has
the advantage of being simple and mex
pensive. Aqo-li-Aqbo is vain and fond Of
display, but unhappily the royal purse is de-
pleted and he cannot crafty his luxurious
tastes. Too poor to maintain the royal
stables. he has been oliged to abandon driv-
ing about in the berlin which his predeces-
sor enjoyed, and in his modification hit
upon happy expedient which is character
istic. he caused a small vehicle to be built,
something like the wagons in which peddlers
hawk their goods at country fairs, and, in
ministers the honor of dragging it. The
ministers play their part to perfection They
trot along rapidly at an even pace, and, the
drive over, resume their posts as the conf
Dental friends and advisers of their SOW
ereign. Aqo-li-Aqbo has had the honor, M.
Paul Mimande declares of realizing practi-
cally for the first time the conception of
the chariot of state, which has hitherto
been regarded as merely an abstraction.
The King of Dahomey has three hundred
wives. and lives IN the old palace of Sam
human sacrifices, the very walls only a
short time ago being garnished with skulls.
lie has no longer any power either to be-
head or cruelty, and contents himself with
smoking; drinking and courtship.
Toffa, the King of Porto Nova, is much
more wealthy and powerful monarch. In
he has had his peer Toffa has full treas
ury, five hundred wives and concubines ad
Hbitum, who never address him save on
their knees; subjects who PROSTATE them
selves at his approach. and children more
numerous than those of Priam. He is man
of about fifty, black as the ace of spades,
with small, but keen. piercing eyes, and is
very subtle and intelligent When he ap-
pears in his royal costume-a splendid robe
embroidered with gold a helmet with a tuft-
ed plume, his arms loaded with bracelets
and his breast starred with amulets-he pro-
duces an extraordinary and very contradic-
tory impression-that Of groteSqueneSs COM
bined with real dignity
Toffas palace is a handsome wooden struc-
ture, not unlike the country seat of a we'll
TODD middle-class Englishman. A long av-
enue OF trees leads up 10 1t, ana the lnclos-
ure in which it stands is surrounded by a
wall. with an immense entrance gate, which,
for the most part, is Hospitality open. 1t is
evident that the King is beloved by his sub
jects and IS in no fear of Anarchists and
dynamiters. His manner of receiving Eu-
ropean visitors is novel, Toffa sits upon his
throne in the reception hall surrounded by
his counSelorS and members or the mousse
hold. The foreigners are introduced. A bot
tie of champagne is brought and the three
principal officials Of the kingdom come for
ward to open it. One takes the bottle. the
second the corkscrew and the third the
glasses Their faces are grave; they feel
the responsibility of their important office.
When the glasses are filed the King rises.
This is the supreme moment; the courtiers
PROSTATE themselves face downward, his
Majesty clicks his glass with those of his
guests and they drink in silence. The cere-
mony over. Toffa resumes his seat and
strikes the floor with his cane, the signal
for the courtiers to rise. On hearing 1t they
start up. swapping their fingers like cas-
fannfN.