The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1922-12-29

zeal regions, flowers are II nearly so
abundant. The animate curiosity of
the Gold Coast is the driver-ant, which
also constitutes its worst pest. The
driver-ants constitute the standing
army Of the insect world. They have
q system Of caste and rank, and the
naturalist gravely tells that the work
ers are q quarter OF an inch long, the
soldiers about half an inch, while the
stately officers reach seven-eighths Of
an inch.
Results of the Word War.
AS a result Of the World war, Great
Britain added to her Gold Coast col
ony an area of about 1880 square
miles which was formerly part Of
German Togoland. A portion twice as
large went to France. The new Brit
ish addition TO the Gold Coast lies
along the eastern border and stretches
away in the shape Of II lens far to
the north.
Germany anueXed Togoland in 1884,
the year she launched upon her
colonial expansion with the acquisi-
ton also Of northeastern New Guinea
and the Bismarck archipelago. Togo
land was the first colony to dispense
with imperial subsidy.
Along the s~eacoast Togoland's soil
is rich and sandy, It's climate warm
and moist. The hinterland is higher,
wooded and drler, but seldom arid.
Thus the land is adapted to a wide
variety Of products, amGng which the
growing of cOconuts, corn, rice. to-
bacco and coffee already has been
highly successful. The exports in
clude considerable quantities OK ivory,
kernels. copra. palm oil and rubber.
This colony affords q commentary
upon Germany's application OF bureau
cratic methods to her possessions.
Despite heavy German emigration to
the United States and South America.
and despite her effort to divert this
flow to her colonies, only about Bon
Germans were to be found among the
million natives of Togoland in 1910.
Most Of the 300 were engaged in gov
eminent service, either in the coast
cities Of LONE. a made-tO-order town
which Germany planted on the site Of
n fishing village, and little Popo. or
the inland government stations at
Misahohe or B~ismarckburg.
Togoland, too. was along the famous
Slave Coast Of Africa.
About the Oahomeys.
The Dahomeys, natives Of the south.
present a curious blend of slirewd-
ness. cruelty, and superstition. Small,
| robust and athletic. they climb trees
like monkeys. easily become fluent
llnguists. but cling 10 fetichism and
sill practice cannibalism.
The king OF the Dahcmeys is IL
tribal deity. He controls the lives and
property Of his subjects. Formerly
he WIS regarded rs more ethereal!
thar human; he was believed TO re-
quire neither food nor sleep. He
strengthened that impression by hav-
Ing ~ food served TO him in solitude.
md Bearing petitions from behind n
screen. Consultation with his minis
iers was carried on through H. wives.
who were state dignitarieS. Genuine
AmaZOns formed his bodyguard. and
these warrior w0inen were reputed 10
he as fearless and brave rs those CT
Greek mythology, and mach more
cruel.
Only tho m Of the dada. or queen.
were regarded as heirs. From among
the AmaZons the sovereign selectel
other wives, but oil except the favored
few we're celibates. The king was
considered the father Of all his sub
jects. Children were taken from
their mothers at an early age and
given to other families so they might
form no ties which would conflict with
their allegiance to the king.