Denton Examiner, Audenshaw, Hooley Hill and Dukinfield Advertiser. — 1876-12-30 (Denton, Greater Manchester, England)

TIM SITUATION IN DAHOMEY.  A eorreepondent of the Standard writes ae From the very first imposition of the blockade we have felt convinced that Gelele would hold out to the bitter end. He and his ceboceers are self-ccsivinced that they are able to maintain their ground against any British army that ever took the field. Perhaps if a personal conference could be held the palaver might be "set" with but little difficulty, but his caboceers will neither permit any offensive messagee to reach the Royal ear nor cease from pouring in their ceaseless flatteries. Even if Commodore Hewett were to obtain audience with the King, unlees he could speak Iron himself, he might be certain that his interpreter I would, under the dread of losing his life, no alter his translation of the commodore's words as would j entirely disguise their meaning, if any serious statement were made to the King as to the means which would be taken to enforce the payment of the fine unless he complied with the demands. Blasperated by the persistence of the commodore in his demands, he is wreaking his vengeance after the manner of a spoiled child upon any unfortunate who may be unlucky enough to fall under his displeasure. Upon the slightest pretext the housee of the natives are stripped of everything, and the owners flogged or carried off to Abomey to be sacrificed to the bloodthirsty fetichism of Dahomey. Seven of the Whydahs who had dared to discuss the subject of a conference with the commodore were overheard by the King's spies, dragged out to Agauli, the central criminal court of the residence of the Viceroy or Avogan of Whydah, and there thrust into a dingy prison. An account of their crime was sent to the King. who gave immediate orders for their execution, and they were shot outside the palace.  A Portuguese merchant, Senhor Antonio in Le, and a Brazilian trader, who is also a minor caboceer, Da Silva, have been likewise carried off to Abomey. Their factories have been stripped, and themselves having been trussed like fowls, severely flogged with bamboo rods. Their offence was the unpardonable one of having said that the King ought to pay the fine, and thus save himself and kingdom from destruction. What a pity it is that the King's son, Prince Hahansu, could not be communicated with. He is a young man of great promise, and would be only too glad to enter into negotiations with the commodore, since his desire is to open up and increase the trade of Dahomey, and not deepen her already encrimsoned annals with further bloodshed. We fear, however, that though he would be the Prince Aneah of Dahomey, the jealousy of the fanatual party would ninth in his murder, unless he were sulloiently protected by our own people. The sacred tree has been environed by a hedge of sharpened poles, and the King and cabocears have taken fetich° oath that upon the commodore firing , the first shot the heads of all the European prisoners I will be struck off and fixed upon them. As we have repeatedly stated, the King will certainly carry out his threat. The fate of the unfortunate white men who remained at Wbydah while escape was possible is, therefore, only too painfully evident. After having , threatened no long, the commodore cannot with honour withdraw from the carrying out of his threat, and unless some most extraordinary influence is brought to bear upon the King, the boom of the first gun will be the death knell to the captive', in the state prisons of Dahomey.