The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-15
KING RxHANzIN.
How a free Bsrn American Basksd I'm the
nsyL Smile IN seAxirt Martinique.

msyal Smile IN seAxirt Martinique.
To THE EDITOR on TIE suN-Sv: I have
read to-day that Behanzin. King OF
In dead. and AZ he was one Of the few kings
Who have shaken hands with me l feel that 70
IN up to me to offer his shade some testimonial
OF publicity In q country which does not
recognize royalty publicly. Privately We
are only human.
-Four years ago I happened to be at Fort
de France. Martinique. q French West Indian
possession; and in looking for sights was
referred to the palace of King Behanzin OF
Dahomey and the King himself. who was
just then and had been for some years the
involuntary guest Of France on the island.
With another free born American citizen /
hired q hack and We HE'D ourselves TO the
palace. situated on a hill overlooking the
town and the roadstead. We didn't speak
French and our negro driver didn't speak
American-the idea Of q dsrky not speak
ing our language seemed utterly prepos-
terous-and We hoed q hard row TO and tnat
palace. We never should have found 10 II
q hidalso. OF something highly decorated
and extremely polite. hadn't dismounted
from his horse and showed US the way from
the high road to the royal gates. He was no
kings retainer. either: simply a West Indian
gentleman.
Leaving our conveyance. we climbed a SIDE
road which led from q rickety paling fence
up TO the main entrance OF the palace. ms
was q frame cottage OF the rdtns tropical
build. mostly windows and doors, with posts
enough to hold them In place, and it's rental
value might have been o.. % . month. Benan-
xin had grown 30 r~antankerous IN AFRICA
that the peace OF that continent called for his
exile. and the Dahomeyans were compelled
to let him 90. There was nobody around the
palace TO look after our interests. but We
headed for the p~ortcuIlis. which opened on
Q vsrands. with the intention Of giving the
front door Q resoapding knock. But before
this could happen . bright young darby.
% black ss q pair Of patent feathers and at
tired In the gray uniform Of Q cadet. came
from the kitchen side Of the palace and met
US In the ~dooryard. He spoke fairly rood
English and said he was the Kings son.
Black a. he was. and though I have Southern
color prejudices, and also look upon royalty
a. ed etc poppycock. I surprised myself greatly
by repeating In Q half awed whisper: The
Kings SOM He wa very polite and told us
that although Il was after reception hours ne
would SEQ Il the King his father would not
receive us. In the meantime I had some
little talk with him and he told me that
King Behanzin didn't like living In the West
Indies and wanted to go home. This L
thought was base lngratitude. because France
was paying all his expenses and allowing his
seven wives-we did hear IL was seventeen.
ana pGT1Ap8 ~ NN5-NO CbCSh INN III NE INV
ilness. The Prince himself appeared 20 De
a very nice boy OF about 10. and he certainly
was AHA ble-for a Prince royal.
He told US to 90 up on the veranda and ne
would 90 around and inform the King his
father, who would come TO the suffered
door to meet us. Within q few minutes We
heard a ri stling through the shutters. mingled
with the giggling Of women, and presently
the door opened cautiously and King Behan-
- fN,n kka kanA aarN RI silva ma thu nhAHA-
He did not come outside. nor did he open the
door wide. But he was smiling and gracious
and shook hands with US as II he we're run
ming for Office. I talked to him as thou Oh he
could understand, and he kept nodding ana
smiling with an unlighted pipe in his mouth
ha wing q bowl about as big as a walnut and
a stem two feet long.
The King was as black as the Prince and
was about 50 years Of age. with gray among
his curls, and regular bilygoat whiskers, also
streaked with gray. His attire consisted Of a
blue silk, gold embossed tablecloth or window
curtain. or something cut to the pattern OF
such. and his arm was bare to the shoulder.
which was as much Of him as got through the
door crack. One popularity l observed was
the nail on his little finger. 1t was three inches
or more In length and twisted on down toward
his hand in . graceful spiral. I fancy he was
proud Of IL. All the time we we're talking to
him the women back OF the shutter were gig
Cling and having the time OF their lives.
The interview. by the Princes request.
was soon over. and wishing the good King
Behanzin q speedy return to his home in
Dahomey, we shook hands once more and
took up our line Of departure. the King
shutting the door abruptly and thus OBJ
waiting the necessity Of our backing away
as is the custom In royal circles usually. The
Prince walked with US part OF the way Town
the hill again. As we passed the side Of the
palace some four or Ave ladies OF color. with
their kinky hair curled up into horns four or
Ave inches high. stood in the yard ~gigsling
and watching us. They were also black and
shiny and were anywhere from twenty to
thirty years younger than their royal master
and husband I think from the giddy man
ner OF them that they would have risked the
royal displeasure by flirting With us II the
Prince hadn't been with us. I forgot to say
their royal robes were Of calico. with no
furbelows.
When / heard later that the King had been
sent back to his native land l was glad. and
now that he is dead I am sorry he was not
spared longer to make up for the time lost in
Martinique. where he was not happy.