The Washington times., 1901-09-22
KING BEHANz1N,s CAPTIVITY.
Former Monarch of Dahomey Has a
Royal Time in Prison.

| Royal Time in Prison.
Being taken on shore by the captain
and officers to pay my respects to the
| Governor of Martinique, at his proposal
| accompanied him on a visit to Behanzin.
| ex-king of Dahomey, who had been in his
| charge since January, 1894. We wound
| up a steep hill to the half-rui-.sd Fort
| Tartanson, and entering grass grown
| square, confronted low two-storied
| building, with barred doors and grated
| windows. One of the frenchmen rang,
| and mulatto woman came out, and some
| three minutes later we all entered a roomy
| casemate hung with some cotton stuff.
| The audience chamber was wretched
| enough for the walls were whitewashed
as in a barrack. The interpreter appear
| ed, and reported the captives state of
| health to the Governor. Then he brought
| in small cane sofa and some chairs,
| ranging the latter in Il half-circle round
| the former.
| Then the curtains parted, and gigan-
| tic negro came before us; 1t was the
| scourge of the Guinea Coast, the terrible
Behanzin. Throwing a quick glance
| around, he advanced abruptly and en-
| hraeed the Governor, crying in a clicking,
| gutteral voice, "Ha, anil Ha, anil He
was followed by his wives and daughters,
| and savage-looking negro. who had been
| his minister and executioner in one. Then
rustling his silky draperies. the King
| sank heavily into a chair. signing us to
do the same. From under his velvet hood,
embroidered with beads. his grizzled and
| curly locks felI abunOantfy, Whiie tne
| tuft his chin was also grizzled. On
his feet Were leather sandals with velvet
| tops embroidered with beads. On the cap
| tain offering him a box of Havana cigars.
| he nodded quickly, and cried in the same
sutteral tones, Meusi. meusi, Commadat.
Meusil (MerciD" The Governor then
playtully pointed to one of the officers
and asked through the interpreter wheth-
| er the Kings daughter. Potazi would not
like him for husband. The King gave
| a hoarse laugh. and motioned to her;
when she sprang UP and coquettishly did
! his bidding. Then the three young ne
| crosses kissed all present in turn. exhal-
| ing strong SAVIOR of Cocoanut oil. AT
| fresh sign from the King, one of his wives
brought in his Sceptre and handed 1t to
| him, kissing the ground humbly before
doing so. 1t is of wood, surmounted by
an elephants tusk set in silver. When
he is unable to pay his daily visit to the
touch him on the shoulder with this scep-
tire.
| The same afternoon he suddenly APP
| peared on the terrace to return our visit.
! 'Ha, ami amir was again his cultural
greeting. and then, joyously. Nom ma
| lad, nom maladi'' to signify his indisposi-
| tion of the morning was passed. We went
| to the drawing-room and NJ. Moroquini
| said: Now | shall ask the King TO show
| US how they marry In Dahomey. This
| being Interpreted to him, he nodded acqui-
escence, and the ceremony began. An
earthenware vessel full of water was
handed to him. and Potazi went on her
knees before him, and held out her hand
with glass in it. With a bright smile
Behanzin half filed 1t with water. Then
another daughter. Bupang, signed to her
| sister to follow her. PotaZi hid behind
her. and stretching out both hands so that
the right palm covered the top of the
glass in her left leaned forward like
tiger ready to spring. Walking slowly
| and heavily. the girls approached one of
the lieutenants, who colored to the ears
Then Potazi Strengthened herself with an
effcrt and put the glass to her lips
Bravo cried the Frenchman, she has
chosen youi Drink drink
The happy man in confusion drank it at
one gulp. Then the BRIDE put her arms
around his neck and kissed him resonant
| qulni, now you are man and wife for
ever Be thankful we are not in Da
honey Then one of the officers went to
the piano and struck up The Reichland-
err The princess hesitated, but Behanzin
nodded ma ajestically and the dance began.
Forming line. the dusky maidens pro
ceeded to sway their bodies slowly to
and fro, and as slowly advanced. They
twisted like snakes, now right, now left,
| waving their, arms interlaced at the ell
bow, and wildly whirling their heels, their
Quicker and quicker grew the. step. soon
the air passed into Il wild gallop and the
frenzy of the dancers increased Behan-
zin seemed to drink them in with his eyes.
The dance came to an end, and the
princesses amid the deafening applause,
breathed hard, sank once more on their
I Knees rear tnelr IatHeT, VINO sIrOhtu lltlT
heads with a tenderness astonishing IN
| one who had not shrunk from the. most
| horrible barbarities. few minutes later,
| at what seemed a playful hint from him,
| the eldest of them, Bupang, coughed twice
| and began to chant softly in her own
| language her sisters soon joining in in
| their plaintive voices. The song was low
| and mournfUl, with no harmony and alb
rupt transitions. The words, however,
| must have been touching. for Behanzin
| became plunged in mournfpl musing. All
| of a sudden low bass notes were heard;
| Il was the Kings terrible executioner
| plaintively echoing the song.
Then champagne was handed round, and
| Behanzin, thoroughly elated. seized COB
| let and sprang from the chair. All rose
noisily and surrounded him.. Ami, Anil!
| he cried once more, inviting each to turn
| by signs to dip his finger in his goblet
| And when all present had complied with
! this strange request he drank down his
/ wine at a draught. and laughed wildly
| and merrily. Now we are the Kings
| friends forever" explained the Governor.
This is the highest mark of friendship
/ in his country, like the peace pipe OF the
| Indians" We spent some half an hour
more there, but he had again mastered
| himself and sat moodily putting his cigar.
| The song had doubtless brought back to
| him, as TO the Gagged lion, the vision of
the desert and the longing to be there.
| Alasi 1 fear Fort Tartanson will never
let him go. at least alive.-London Globe.