The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-02-26
A C1Tr's MARROW ESCAPE
200, 900 People Thought tho Dahomians
Were Going to Kill Them.

Few books have been written about Yoruba.
on the Gulf of Guinea. West Africa. There is
no part Of Africa, excepting the Nile Valley.
which Is so densely populated. and yet this
country near the sea was hardly known to
white men a few years ago. This fact gives all
the greater interest to Missionary Stones
hook. In Africa's Forest and Jungle" just
published by the +. H. Revell Company. In
which he describes his six years. life among
the Yorubans. He tells the story OF the narrow
escape of Abeokuta. a city OF 300 900 inhab.
itants. from destruction by the King OF Daho-
mey a little while before he was shorn OF his
power by the French.
The King Of Dahomey advanced against that
great city with a large army. including several
thousand Amazons. female warriors who were
nothing better than human tigers. Mr.. Stone
says that one OF their favorite amusements
was to see which OF them could first get
through q high circle OF thorns to kill a help
less prisoner tied to a stake. Though their
limbs were shockingly torn by the thorns. they
thought it excellent sport. One Amazon could
offer no greater insult to another than to tell
her You are nothing but a man." and only
the death Of one or the other could settle the
difficulty. They were past human feeling and
shedding human blood was their chief delight
This large army was able through favorable
circumstances to advance within ten miles OF
Abeokuta without being detected. A large
forest lies between Dahomey and Abeokuta.
The thousands OF Dahomians had entered this
forest in single file ut many places and had cut
their way through 1t. step by step. until they
reached Eshagga. a suburb ten miles from
Abeokuta. They were a month travelling
through the forest, and during this time were
not permitted to make any noise that would
distinguish them from a wild animal. II any
one forgot himself and spoke In an ordinary
voice he was instantly slain. Orders to the
men were given in grunts or barks like those
miles a day. and united all their columns just
before coming out of the forest at Eshagga:
easy for them to get into this, populous suburb.
When Yoru6ans go TO war they 90 not salute
salute them. The Dahomians came out on the
road between EshaRGa, and Abeokuts, about
d desfroy ~ hf th had r En2w ETY. y n tSa @t'G nlss sssl ior hs sSs
Yorubans were wholly unprepared and did not
ssSSsPSfh1t the Sn sns@{ 70 l pssssfpSS ,6od R Y6r sas Rs4 ls
his rear. and therefore determined TO destroy
Eshagga that night and assault Abeokuta next
soldiers were Yorubans on their way 70 the
s] Sad az h On tne m n"S It they s%s al d'n NOT S snoTS the h
fearful blunder they had made,
and encamp"d in tho market place. the inhab.
itants ceiling al tie more secure because SO
r TatiS if to rest, iittie Enowins the sword that
was at their throats. Soon after the doomed
city hecame still the slaughter began, Nearly
dred being spared TO be taken to Dahomey and
there offered IN sacrifice. Everybody else psy.
ished except one man, who, though badly
wounded. succeeded, In reaching Ebeokuta
next morning and giving Che alarm;
It was found a little later that the
hostile King had abandoned his original
plan and not 2 Dahomian was within thirty
with the terrible slaughter at EshagRa and de-
cided 10 postpone his attack on the greet city
until the following season. Then the attack
came, but Abeokuta was ready 70 defend hers
self 20 the utmost and the tyrant OF Dahom00
! was repulsed with heavy loss.