* * * * *

CATALOGUE OF THE DAHOMAN KINGS,
WITH
THE DATES OF THEIR VARIOUS EXPLOITS, THEIR “STRONG NAMES,”
AND THE EVENTS OF THEIR REIGNS.

+--------+-----------------------+-----------+-----------------------+
|_Order._| _Names._ | _Date of | _Various Exploits, |
| | |Accession._| etc._ |
+--------+-----------------------+-----------+-----------------------+
| 1. |His Nyí, or “natural | 1625. |His princely origin at |
| |name,” known to all the| |Allada, and his |
| |people, is Dako: also | |migration north, are |
| |called Do-nun, “Know- | |told at length in |
| |thing” (which nobody | |Chapter V.; his |
| |else knows). Hence the | |conquest of Adan-we, in|
| |“Tacoodonou” of the | |Chapter X.; his |
| |History. Like the | |building the palaces of|
| |modern kings, he took | |“Adan-we” and “Danh’s |
| |(jije) a Nyí Siyensiyen| |Belly” (whence the |
| |or “strong name,” or | |corrupted name |
| |title, after every new | |“Dahome”), in Chapter |
| |exploit, and for this | |V. |
| |object killed one of | | |
| |his mothers-in-law, | |He also conquered |
| |because she asked for | |Pakhi, a little |
| |some European cloth | |district between Adan- |
| |which had been promised| |we and Kana and Addéin,|
| |to her. His principal | |on the left hand coming|
| |titles, recited to the | |from the latter place |
| |gong-gong, are: 1. As | |to Agbome. He enthroned|
| |he is king, he will lay| |himself at Agbome about|
| |low all who do not bow | |1625, and probably was |
| |to his sceptre. 2. A | |born the beginning of |
| |fetish charm that | |the seventeenth |
| |nothing can harm. 3. | |century. His cousin, |
| |Flint-striker is not | |Sawalu, offended by not|
| |kept in sheath. 4. He | |having an important |
| |kills a person that the| |post, fled to the |
| |dyeing-pots may be | |Makhi, or northern |
| |upset. There are many | |hillmen; but was |
| |others, equally | |defeated by Dako. The |
| |fanciful and | |heralds place the |
| |unintelligible. | |founder of the dynasty |
| | | |second in order on |
| | | |their list, as he was a|
| | | |captain, not a king, |
| | | |and they speak of him |
| | | |as the “Palm-tree |
| | | |planter.” He died, |
| | | |after a reign of 25 |
| | | |years, at the Adan-we |
| | | |Palace; which, |
| | | |according to some, was |
| | | |given to him by its |
| | | |king, Awesu. |
| | | | |
| 2. |His natural name is | 1650. |Aho was son of Dako; |
| |“Aho,” which has no | |but after sinning the |
| |signification. The | |sin of Absalom, he fled|
| |History calls him | |to the bush, and lived |
| |Adahoonzou, which (as | |long with the hunters |
| |Adán-hun-zo) means, | |in the plantation |
| |Brave soldier has fire | |villages. At his |
| |or heat. This is | |father’s death he |
| |probably some princely | |returned to Agbome, |
| |or trivial title, for | |slew the King Agri, and|
| |the gong- gong begins | |built over him the |
| |thus:—“Aho- ho-o-o | |Palace of Agri-go-men |
| |Demanakpo (he must kill| |(Chapter X). He |
| |all nations), | |conquered a number of |
| |Ahwandogozo Matonya | |small places, for which|
| |(ready to meet any | |reason his name is |
| |enemy unawares), Edo | |placed by the heralds |
| |addanun nyanbara ’o” | |at the head of the |
| |(when he swears against| |dynastic list, before |
| |the foe the foe is | |that of his father. |
| |afraid), &c., &c. His | |After reigning 30 |
| |strong names are: 1. He| |years, he died in the |
| |will break the walls of| |Agbome Palace, and his |
| |the surrounding peoples| |spirit is “watered” at |
| |to hold Dahome. 2. If | |“Aho’s Gate,” opposite |
| |the nations have any | |the open space called |
| |tricks, they must not | |Patin-sa. |
| |come near him, nor go | | |
| |to any place; but they | | |
| |must take him out. | | |
| | | | |
| 3. |Natural name Akaba | 1680. |Akaba was the brother |
| |(_i.e._, A ‘Kábá, “Oh, | |of Aho, and wrested the|
| |tall, strong man!”). He| |kingdom from his nephew|
| |is also known as Hwes’ | |Abosasa, who flying to |
| |Akabá whence probably | |the Oyos of the north, |
| |the History’s name, | |stirred up a useless |
| |“Weebai-gah.” His | |war. He was a great |
| |strong names are: 1. He| |conqueror; but the |
| |flung a cutlass, and | |names of few of his |
| |the owner of the | |conquests have come |
| |country resigned to him| |down to us, the |
| |his lands (alluding to | |principal being Jegbe, |
| |his throwing a sword at| |or Jigbe, in “Weme,” |
| |Yag- haze, the | |near the Nohwe Lagoon, |
| |conquered King of | |the “Denham Waters” of |
| |Weme). 2. A big club, | |our charts. |
| |as he is, he will break| | |
| |down all the | |According to others, |
| |surrounding thorns. 3. | |Weme, the Weemy of the |
| |He was not before | |History, is near Grand |
| |death, or he would not | |Popo. Some, again, make|
| |have allowed it. | |it part of “Porto |
| | | |Novo.” It has long ago |
| | | |been “broken”; but a |
| | | |few people, it is said,|
| | | |still linger there. |
| | | | |
| | | |Akaba, the last of the |
| | | |pre-historic kings, |
| | | |reigned about 28 years.|
| | | |After his death “it was|
| | | |that, by the assistance|
| | | |of writing, each |
| | | |transient fact was |
| | | |fixed, and scattered |
| | | |information collected |
| | | |into a body; it was |
| | | |then that tradition |
| | | |gave place to record, |
| | | |and legend to history.”|
| | | | |
| 4. |Natural name Agaja, | 1708. |This warrior and |
| |which is part of a | |conqueror, who may be |
| |sentence, meaning, “A | |called Agaja the Great,|
| |branching tree (_i.e._,| |is said also to have |
| |one that meets you in | |usurped the throne. He |
| |all directions) must be| |began by subduing |
| |lopped before it is | |countries to the north-|
| |thrown into the fire.” | |west of Dahome, |
| |The History calls him | |especially Didouma and |
| |“Guadja Trudo”: the | |Povey, names now |
| |latter word is a | |unknown. Being refused,|
| |“strong name,” | |by Allada and Whydah a |
| |signifying “dashing” | |passage to the coast, |
| |(_i.e._, throwing large| |he captured the former |
| |presents to people). | |and slew the king, in |
| |Mr. Bulfinch Lambe’s | |1724. He carried to |
| |surname, Trudo | |Agbome Mr. Bulfinch |
| |“_Audati_” is quite | |Lambe, whose letter |
| |unknown to the heralds.| |from his palace bears |
| |Commander Forbes | |date November 27 of |
| |writes, with usual | |that year. He then |
| |cacography, Agah-jah- | |received the submission|
| |dooso. The latter word | |and tribute of “Jaquin”|
| |is “Dosu,” a name | |(Jackin, or Jakin,) a |
| |universally given in | |little maritime |
| |Dahome to a boy born | |country, west of |
| |after twins. The fourth| |Whydah. He defeated, by|
| |king’s principal strong| |stratagem, an army of |
| |name is: 1. “Dosu asks | |Oyos, and appeased |
| |to see, and then takes | |their king by many |
| |by force from the | |presents. In February- |
| |owner.” He is the first| |March, 1727, he took |
| |king whose mother’s | |Savi, capital of Whydah|
| |name—Addono—is known, | |(Chapter V.) with |
| |and who claims funereal| |terrible bloodshed, and|
| |rites and sacrifices. | |sacrificed 4000 |
| | | |prisoners. He carried |
| | | |up to Allada forty |
| | | |white men, whom he |
| | | |treated civilly; and in|
| | | |April, 1727, he was |
| | | |visited by Capt. |
| | | |Snelgrave (Catherine |
| | | |galley), who published |
| | | |his observations (“A |
| | | |Full Account of Some |
| | | |Parts of Guinea, and of|
| | | |the Slave Trade,” 8vo),|
| | | |describing the king as |
| | | |“the most extraordinary|
| | | |man of his colour that |
| | | |he had ever conversed |
| | | |with.” |
| | | | |
| | | |After this Agaja turned|
| | | |his attention to the |
| | | |“Tuffoes” (Toffos), who|
| | | |had insulted him, |
| | | |conquered them with |
| | | |3000 regulars, and |
| | | |sacrificed 400 |
| | | |prisoners, much as is |
| | | |done now. In 1728, the |
| | | |Whydahs, under a |
| | | |captain called “Ossue” |
| | | |(Fosu?) attempted a |
| | | |return to their |
| | | |country, and were |
| | | |protected by Governor |
| | | |Wilson, of the English |
| | | |fort. The perfidy of |
| | | |the French Governor |
| | | |caused his fort to be |
| | | |blown up, and |
| | | |subsequently his death.|
| | | |The Whydahs brought |
| | | |down another army of |
| | | |Oyos, which, after |
| | | |doing great damage, |
| | | |departed. About August,|
| | | |1729, the Whydahs, |
| | | |under their king, |
| | | |returned to their old |
| | | |settlement, and were |
| | | |protected by the forts.|
| | | |Agaja, having few men, |
| | | |raised the first |
| | | |Amazons (Chapter XV.), |
| | | |beat Ossue, and drove |
| | | |the king into the |
| | | |English fort. Agaja |
| | | |caused Mr. Testesole, |
| | | |the English Governor, |
| | | |who had grossly |
| | | |insulted him, to be |
| | | |barbarously murdered. |
| | | | |
| | | |Having married one of |
| | | |the daughters of the |
| | | |king of Oyo, Agaja |
| | | |signally defeated the |
| | | |Makhis, who had aided |
| | | |his late enemies. The |
| | | |small coast countries, |
| | | |Weme, Jakin, and Akpa |
| | | |(Appah), were driven by|
| | | |fear to revolt, and |
| | | |were supported by the |
| | | |Dutch Governor, Mynheer|
| | | |Hertog. In March 22, |
| | | |1731-2, an able Dahoman|
| | | |general, with 15,000 |
| | | |men, made the second |
| | | |conquest of Jakin, |
| | | |which he surprised: the|
| | | |king and M. Hertog |
| | | |escaping with |
| | | |difficulty to Akpa. He |
| | | |rifled the European |
| | | |factories, and ordered |
| | | |the offending white men|
| | | |to march on foot to |
| | | |Allada, where, however,|
| | | |he treated them kindly.|
| | | | |
| | | |Agaja the Conqueror was|
| | | |a Scourge of God: the |
| | | |chief object of his |
| | | |wars was conquest, not |
| | | |consolidation; skulls, |
| | | |not men; extermination,|
| | | |not accretion; and this|
| | | |fatal policy he |
| | | |bequeathed to Dahome. |
| | | |After a reign of 19 |
| | | |years, he died in 1727,|
| | | |aged 45. |
| | | | |
| 5. |The natural name of the| 1727. |Tegbwesun succeeded his|
| |second historic king is| |father, to the |
| |Tegbwesun, which | |prejudice of his eldest|
| |belongs to the | |brother, Zingah, whom |
| |mysteries of the Bo- | |he threw into the sea, |
| |Fetish, and, as often | |it not being lawful to |
| |happens, begins a | |shed royal blood. After|
| |phrase: Tegbwesun Au, | |seeing his enormous |
| |or avo, (cloth), agbo | |cruelties, the Meu, or |
| |(the wild bull), ko | |second minister, |
| |(neck), kron- kron-gro | |rebelled in 1735, but |
| |(no one can take it | |was crushed and slain |
| |off). The History, | |by the Gau, or |
| |followed by modern | |Commander-in-chief, and|
| |popular writers, calls | |the rebel’s younger |
| |him “Bossa Ahadi,” an | |brother was appointed |
| |appellation now | |in his stead. The Oyos |
| |completely unknown to | |attacked him in 1738, |
| |the heralds. His strong| |and invested Agbome. |
| |names are: 1. He is | |Tegbwesun fled twenty- |
| |like the hoe handle, he| |five miles to Zaffa (a |
| |will break the legs of | |name now unknown), and |
| |all nations. 2. The | |met Mr. Gregory of the |
| |truth of another man’s | |British fort, Whydah, |
| |wife is not doubted. A | |who accompanied him to |
| |thing in his hand shall| |a hiding-place. The |
| |never be taken by any | |Gau, hearing that his |
| |other person. The | |master was in safety, |
| |mother of this king was| |evacuated Agbome, |
| |named Chai. | |which, as well as Kana,|
| | | |was plundered and |
| | | |burnt. The Oyos |
| | | |returned, and their |
| | | |general was disgraced |
| | | |for not capturing the |
| | | |enemy’s king. They |
| | | |plundered Dahome every |
| | | |year till 1747, when |
| | | |the King agreed to pay |
| | | |them, in November, at |
| | | |Kana, an annual |
| | | |tribute, which lasted |
| | | |till the days of Gezo. |
| | | |In 1750, King Akwasi, |
| | | |of Komasi, crossed the |
| | | |Volta to punish Dahome,|
| | | |and was defeated. |
| | | |Tegbwesun began a war |
| | | |of conquest against the|
| | | |Makhis in 1737: in 1752|
| | | |his general took the |
| | | |stronghold called |
| | | |Boagry (Bowule?), with |
| | | |great bloodshed, but |
| | | |the war continued, the |
| | | |King being also engaged|
| | | |with the old Whydahs |
| | | |and Popos. In 1764 he |
| | | |again attacked the |
| | | |Boagry mountain, and |
| | | |sent the Meu to |
| | | |supersede the Gau, who |
| | | |at once fled to the |
| | | |Makhis. The Meu was |
| | | |defeated; Jupera, the |
| | | |King’s favourite son, |
| | | |died; and Tegbwesun |
| | | |made peace with the |
| | | |enemy in 1772. |
| | | | |
| | | |The Whydahs ever strove|
| | | |to return to their own,|
| | | |and still crowned their|
| | | |kings at the old |
| | | |capital, Savi (Chapter |
| | | |V.) In 1774 Tegbwesun |
| | | |supported a younger |
| | | |brother of the exiled |
| | | |royal family, who |
| | | |murdered the rightful |
| | | |heir, and devoured his |
| | | |heart, afterwards dying|
| | | |miserably of leprosy. |
| | | |Five or six hundred |
| | | |Whydahs had settled |
| | | |under the protection of|
| | | |Sr. João Bassile, of |
| | | |the Portuguese fort. |
| | | |This gentleman was |
| | | |invited to Agbome, and |
| | | |arrested on the road by|
| | | |the Gau, whose army, |
| | | |marching to exterminate|
| | | |the Whydahs, encamped |
| | | |on “Gonnegee” (Agonji, |
| | | |Chapter III.), to cut |
| | | |off their retreat. The |
| | | |Gau extorted money from|
| | | |Sr. Bassile, till a |
| | | |negro servant in charge|
| | | |of the fort told him |
| | | |that he was being |
| | | |deceived, and warned |
| | | |the Whydahs to defend |
| | | |themselves to the last.|
| | | |The Gau attacked the |
| | | |Portuguese fort, |
| | | |November 1, 1741, |
| | | |entered it after great |
| | | |loss, and put all to |
| | | |the sword. The |
| | | |Governor’s servant blew|
| | | |himself up, and his |
| | | |second in command was |
| | | |roasted over a slow |
| | | |fire at Kana. Tegbwesun|
| | | |set Sr. Bassile at |
| | | |liberty, rebuilt the |
| | | |fort, and disavowed the|
| | | |acts of his general. |
| | | | |
| | | |The treachery of a |
| | | |woman led the Dahomans |
| | | |to Jakin, whose people |
| | | |they extirpated. In |
| | | |1777, Sin-men-kpen |
| | | |(Adahoonzou II.) re- |
| | | |established a few |
| | | |families there. |
| | | | |
| | | |In 1743, the Whydahs |
| | | |and Popos attacked |
| | | |Whydah with a large |
| | | |host. The Gau was |
| | | |engaged with the Oyos |
| | | |and Makis: the post, |
| | | |however, was valiantly |
| | | |defended by the Kakawo |
| | | |(Caukaow), or local |
| | | |general, by the Yevogan|
| | | |or Viceroy—these two |
| | | |were slain—and by the |
| | | |Savi caboceers. The |
| | | |victorious Whydahs |
| | | |invested and starved |
| | | |the forts, when the |
| | | |King, recalling the |
| | | |Gau, sent him with |
| | | |50,000 men, and easily |
| | | |drove out the enemy. |
| | | | |
| | | |Tegbwesun appointed, as|
| | | |Yevogan of Whydah, a |
| | | |wealthy eunuch named |
| | | |Tanga. This man, |
| | | |resolving to be King, |
| | | |attempted, in August, |
| | | |1745, to seize |
| | | |William’s Fort. Mr. |
| | | |Gregory, however, |
| | | |resisted, and the rebel|
| | | |fortified his own |
| | | |house. Warned by his |
| | | |priests that his safety|
| | | |depended upon reaching |
| | | |the English fort, he |
| | | |collected his men, and |
| | | |all his hundreds of |
| | | |wives, to whom he had |
| | | |been “not the rigid |
| | | |jailor, nor the |
| | | |tyrannic usurper of |
| | | |their affections, but |
| | | |the generous arbiter of|
| | | |their liveliest |
| | | |pleasures,” cut one |
| | | |another’s throats. The |
| | | |house then was set on |
| | | |fire: Tanga sallied |
| | | |out, and was at once |
| | | |shot. |
| | | | |
| | | |Shampo, a brother-in- |
| | | |law of Tegbwesun, |
| | | |became the object of |
| | | |his King’s jealousy, |
| | | |and warned by his |
| | | |sister (who sent a |
| | | |knife and noosed cord |
| | | |concealed in victuals),|
| | | |he fled to Popo, and |
| | | |commanded their army |
| | | |till his death, in |
| | | |1767. The old Gau, who |
| | | |had long and faithfully|
| | | |served the King, was |
| | | |disgraced under the |
| | | |suspicion that he |
| | | |meditated desertion to |
| | | |the Makhis, and was |
| | | |cruelly killed- half |
| | | |beheaded and then |
| | | |strangled. |
| | | | |
| | | |In 1753, Tegbwesun sent|
| | | |another army to reduce |
| | | |the Whydahs and Popos. |
| | | |Shampo drew them on, |
| | | |and, entrapping them in|
| | | |the lagoons, slew all, |
| | | |at a place called |
| | | |Griji, but twenty-four,|
| | | |whom he sent as |
| | | |messengers to the King.|
| | | |Tegbwesun put the |
| | | |survivors to death, |
| | | |with a message to their|
| | | |comrades that he much |
| | | |disapproved of their |
| | | |conduct in war. |
| | | | |
| | | |In 1762, M. Caillié, |
| | | |the French Governor, |
| | | |Whydah, was charged |
| | | |with selling contraband|
| | | |of war to the enemies |
| | | |of Dahome, and was |
| | | |expelled the kingdom. |
| | | | |
| | | |In 1763, the Popos and |
| | | |Whydahs, under Affurey |
| | | |(Fori), son of Shampo, |
| | | |again attacked Whydah |
| | | |(see Chapter IV.) They |
| | | |were defeated by the |
| | | |energy of Mr. Goodson, |
| | | |who, under the name of |
| | | |“Ajangan,” is |
| | | |remembered by the royal|
| | | |family of Dahome to |
| | | |this day. |
| | | | |
| | | |In 1772, Mr. Robert |
| | | |Norris, Governor of |
| | | |William’s Fort, Whydah,|
| | | |visited the King at |
| | | |Agbome, and, like Mr. |
| | | |Archibald Dalzel, in |
| | | |1766, he was hospitably|
| | | |received. The published|
| | | |account is very |
| | | |interesting, showing |
| | | |how little changed is |
| | | |the complicated Dahoman|
| | | |ceremony during the |
| | | |last century. |
| | | | |
| | | |Tegbwesun died, 70 |
| | | |years old, on May 17, |
| | | |1774, after a long |
| | | |reign of 47 years. He |
| | | |was the terror of his |
| | | |subjects, but a friend |
| | | |to white men. His |
| | | |palace still exists |
| | | |(Chapter XVIII.) in a |
| | | |place outside Agbome, |
| | | |known as Adan- do-kpo- |
| | | |ji Daho. |
| | | | |
| 6. |The natural names are | 1774. |Sin-men-kpen at once |
| |two: Sinmenkpen, the | |determined to support |
| |rock in the water—Sín | |Eyee, “the monkey,” a |
| |(water), men (in), and | |Whydah chief, who was |
| |kpen (a stone)—and | |contending for the |
| |Kpengăla, from Kpen, a | |government against |
| |rock, and gălá, strong | |Abavou (Agbaba’vun), or|
| |or brave. His strong | |the Swampdog, the son |
| |names are: 1. He is not| |of the prince who ate |
| |to give in to anybody, | |his brother’s heart. |
| |as the sellers do to | |“Abavou,” after a stout|
| |the buyers. 2. The | |defence, delivered |
| |seller of hoes never | |himself to Dahome as a |
| |puts some into the | |peace-offering for his |
| |buyers. | |men, and was duly |
| | | |beheaded, his calvaria |
| |The History calls him | |being mummified and |
| |Adahoonzou II. It is | |preserved with all |
| |clear, however, from p.| |honour. |
| |133, that Adan-hun-zo | | |
| |was the princely, and | |Upon this, the King, at|
| |not the royal name. It | |the instigation of the |
| |mentions two of his | |Meu, the “Cokee” and |
| |“titles”: 1, Ai-yaw- | |the “Tovey” (the latter|
| |soo, or the male | |two names and offices |
| |oyster, probably from | |now unknown), disgraced|
| |being hard to crack | |his Yevogan, slapped |
| |(this is some old | |his face, and sent him |
| |Whydah word, which in | |to a state prison, |
| |modern Ffon would be | |whence he never |
| |Adankpwen ’su); and, 2,| |emerged. Mr. Lionel |
| |Yee ma sa hoo beate | |Abson, the English |
| |cofru gloh, “an | |Governor, tried to save|
| |elephant cannot shelter| |him, but unfortunately |
| |himself under the | |used finesse. The King |
| |swish-baskets” (in a | |heard of it, and told |
| |dialect which I am | |his visitor, “I wish |
| |unable to determine). | |you had not been so |
| | | |much of a Dahoman-man |
| |The name of this King’s| |as to have made use of |
| |mother is Hunájile. | |any artifice.” |
| | | | |
| | | |In 1775, the King |
| | | |attacked the |
| | | |“Sarrachees” (Siráchí, |
| | | |a Nago or Aku tribe, |
| | | |mixed with the Makhi), |
| | | |who seized his So-gan, |
| | | |or Captain of Horse |
| | | |commanding the rear. |
| | | |This brave man, when |
| | | |pressed to return, |
| | | |refused, sent a message|
| | | |to thank the King, and |
| | | |fell upon his sword. |
| | | |The Sarrachees defeated|
| | | |the Gau, when the |
| | | |command was given to |
| | | |the Po-su, or second |
| | | |general, who was beaten|
| | | |and killed. In 1777, |
| | | |the King sent a large |
| | | |army, under the Gau, |
| | | |who conquered the |
| | | |enemy, and barbarously |
| | | |ravaged the country. |
| | | | |
| | | |In 1778, the King of |
| | | |Allada agreed to attack|
| | | |Appee (Appi Vista) by |
| | | |water, and Dahome to |
| | | |assault by land. The |
| | | |latter had four |
| | | |divisions, led by the |
| | | |Gau, the Po-su, the |
| | | |“Zoheinoo” (Zokenu, the|
| | | |Amazon deputy Mingan, |
| | | |or grand |
| | | |executioneress) and the|
| | | |“Phussupoh” (Fosupo, |
| | | |now the Amazon deputy |
| | | |Meu, but in the days of|
| | | |the History a man |
| | | |officer). Hooroo, an |
| | | |Apee chief, with 800 |
| | | |men, attacked them in |
| | | |the swamp, killed in |
| | | |single combat a Dahoman|
| | | |Captain, Allopwee, and |
| | | |fought till he and his |
| | | |party fell to a man. |
| | | |The victors took 500 |
| | | |male adults, besides |
| | | |women, children, and |
| | | |much booty. The Apees |
| | | |left their King at |
| | | |“Weme,” which was |
| | | |friendly with Oyo, |
| | | |attacked the Alladas, |
| | | |forcing their way |
| | | |through them, and fell |
| | | |upon the Dahoman rear. |
| | | |All the Apees were |
| | | |slain at the next |
| | | |year’s Customs, and |
| | | |five women were |
| | | |barbarously murdered |
| | | |for endeavouring to |
| | | |escape. The King stood |
| | | |over the executioners, |
| | | |who were the women of |
| | | |his palace, instructing|
| | | |them, “not that |
| | | |way—hold your cutlass |
| | | |thus—give it me—’tis so|
| | | |(moen dé, a favourite |
| | | |phrase)—imagine you are|
| | | |chopping wood!” &c. |
| | | | |
| | | |The King then gave each|
| | | |caboceer a string, |
| | | |measuring ten yards, |
| | | |the intended width of |
| | | |road from his capital |
| | | |to the beach. He cut |
| | | |through the Agrime |
| | | |swamp, filled up |
| | | |gullies, and widened |
| | | |the hurdle bridges. |
| | | |Traces of this |
| | | |enlightened labour |
| | | |remain to the present |
| | | |day; Commander Forbes |
| | | |has called this King |
| | | |the Macadam of Africa. |
| | | | |
| | | |In 1781, after the |
| | | |death of the wealthy |
| | | |old Meu, the Oyos |
| | | |demanded, as tribute, |
| | | |100 of his women. Sin- |
| | | |men-kpen sent his |
| | | |Kakawo to collect them |
| | | |in the Agunah country, |
| | | |and this officer being |
| | | |slain, he marched in |
| | | |person at the head of |
| | | |800 women. The people |
| | | |fled to Sirachi, but |
| | | |their caves were smoked|
| | | |by fires strewed with |
| | | |pepper, till the two |
| | | |Kings and 1800 subjects|
| | | |surrendered. He of |
| | | |Agunah died on the |
| | | |march. “Sirachi” was |
| | | |thrown from the |
| | | |platform in the normal |
| | | |basket, “tied like a |
| | | |hog.” The year 1782 |
| | | |concluded with a famine|
| | | |and great mortality. |
| | | | |
| | | |In 1783, after a little|
| | | |raid of the Dahomans |
| | | |upon the Badagry beach,|
| | | |Sin-men-kpen sent his |
| | | |Gau, who fell into an |
| | | |ambuscade, and escaped |
| | | |with difficulty, losing|
| | | |the Po-su. The Alladas |
| | | |acted treacherously, |
| | | |and one of the rival |
| | | |chiefs of Badagry, Onum|
| | | |(“son of Prince Davee”)|
| | | |(the other, Ginguem, |
| | | |having been banished by|
| | | |his subjects to Bahia),|
| | | |sent, through the |
| | | |Governor of William’s |
| | | |Fort, Whydah, a long |
| | | |letter to the King, |
| | | |accusing his allies. |
| | | |Sin-men-kpen replied, |
| | | |“My name is Deddi ma |
| | | |tronu” (“Déddé” is |
| | | |slowly; the other words|
| | | |are not intelligible), |
| | | |meaning, “I am easy in |
| | | |my pace, but always in |
| | | |pursuit; let Ardrah |
| | | |take care of his own |
| | | |country.” |
| | | | |
| | | |In 1784, the King, |
| | | |joined by Makhis and |
| | | |Nagos, with guides from|
| | | |Oyo, to which country |
| | | |he promised to send his|
| | | |prisoners, and |
| | | |reinforced by an |
| | | |alliance with the chief|
| | | |of Lagos, attacked |
| | | |Badagry. Prince Davee |
| | | |and his generals, the |
| | | |Oclah and the Po-su, |
| | | |sallied out: the two |
| | | |former were killed, the|
| | | |latter was wounded, and|
| | | |5000 heads were sold by|
| | | |the Dahoman troops to |
| | | |their King. The Fosupo |
| | | |and Po-su of Dahome |
| | | |went in quest of the |
| | | |enemy’s women, who had |
| | | |fled towards Lagos, and|
| | | |the Alladas duped the |
| | | |victors by plundering |
| | | |the place. The Oyos, |
| | | |also, had a plan of |
| | | |carrying off the |
| | | |Dahomans and their |
| | | |spoil, but they were |
| | | |baffled. The Fosupo, |
| | | |having failed to take |
| | | |the Badagrian women, |
| | | |wiped out the disgrace |
| | | |by applying a loaded |
| | | |pistol to his mouth. |
| | | |The Customs of 1785 |
| | | |were very grand, and as|
| | | |127 skulls were wanted |
| | | |to complete the |
| | | |decoration of the |
| | | |palace wall, as many |
| | | |people were killed in |
| | | |cold blood. |
| | | | |
| | | |In May, 1786, Weme, |
| | | |which had offended Oyo,|
| | | |was attacked by Dahome,|
| | | |and by 100 Makhi |
| | | |caboceers, with their |
| | | |trains: it was utterly |
| | | |destroyed. |
| | | | |
| | | |By the King’s order, |
| | | |the “Coki,” or second |
| | | |caboceer of Whydah (a |
| | | |name now unknown), and |
| | | |the Kakawo, with 300 |
| | | |soldiers, kidnapped |
| | | |from the “Porto Novo” |
| | | |beach fourteen |
| | | |Frenchmen, one |
| | | |Portuguese, and eighty |
| | | |Gold Coast canoemen. |
| | | |They were ransomed by |
| | | |M. Gourg, Governor of |
| | | |the French fort, |
| | | |Whydah, for £4,600. The|
| | | |King of Allada |
| | | |complained of this |
| | | |outrage to him of Oyo, |
| | | |and the latter sent to |
| | | |Sin-men-kpen, that |
| | | |“Ardrah was Oyo’s |
| | | |calabash, out of which |
| | | |nobody should be |
| | | |permitted to eat but |
| | | |himself.” The Dahomans |
| | | |were greatly alarmed, |
| | | |but presently they |
| | | |attacked the old |
| | | |Whydahs, and carried |
| | | |off a few baskets of |
| | | |salt. |
| | | | |
| | | |In 1788, the King |
| | | |attacked “Croo-too- |
| | | |hoon-too” (supposed to |
| | | |be near Toffo and the |
| | | |Aizoh people, Chapter |
| | | |XXIV.), but the Gau and|
| | | |the Po-su were |
| | | |repulsed. The victors |
| | | |sent five caboceers to |
| | | |beg pardon, and to |
| | | |offer a tribute, which |
| | | |was accepted. The Gau, |
| | | |however, secretly |
| | | |followed them home, and|
| | | |put all the people to |
| | | |the sword. |
| | | | |
| | | |Shortly after this, |
| | | |Agbome and Kana were |
| | | |visited by an |
| | | |earthquake, which shook|
| | | |down part of the palace|
| | | |walls, and extended to |
| | | |Agunah and other |
| | | |places. The King |
| | | |applied for an |
| | | |explanation to the |
| | | |Europeans, who improved|
| | | |to little purpose the |
| | | |occasion, by preaching |
| | | |him. After this we do |
| | | |not hear of an |
| | | |earthquake visiting |
| | | |Agbome till July 10, |
| | | |1862, when the shock, |
| | | |so fatal to the eastern|
| | | |Gold Coast, startled |
| | | |the present King |
| | | |(Chapter XIV.) |
| | | | |
| | | |In the next year, Sin- |
| | | |men-kpen marched out |
| | | |with six divisions, |
| | | |feinting at Popo, and |
| | | |falling upon the large |
| | | |town of Katoo (Iketu), |
| | | |he butchered the |
| | | |inhabitants, and |
| | | |carried off 2000 |
| | | |slaves. |
| | | | |
| | | |The sixth King died of |
| | | |small-pox, April 17, |
| | | |1789, after a warlike |
| | | |reign of 15 years. I |
| | | |have alluded to “Lize- |
| | | |hun-zo House,” his |
| | | |palace, in Chapter |
| | | |XVIII. The History |
| | | |mentions one called |
| | | |Gree ma zon baw (Gree, |
| | | |field; má, not; zon, |
| | | |send; ’gbo, goat)—You |
| | | |do not give a goat a |
| | | |plantation to sow corn |
| | | |in (because he eats it |
| | | |all), or, You do not |
| | | |send a goat to make a |
| | | |plantation. At Sin-men-|
| | | |kpen’s death, 595 women|
| | | |were slaughtered by |
| | | |their companions, |
| | | |according to the common|
| | | |usage of the palace. |
| | | | |
| 7. |The grandfather of the | 1789. |Agongoro, the son of |
| |reigning sovereign | |Sin-men-kpen, had three|
| |bears the “natural | |rivals, two of them his|
| |name” of Agon-goro, | |own uncles, but he soon|
| |pronounced Agongro, or | |won the day. He began |
| |Agonglo: the derivation| |well, reducing the |
| |is Agon, the Palmyra | |intolerable imposts, |
| |tree, which is never | |enlisting his tax |
| |lightning-struck, and | |gatherers, and visiting|
| |whose leaves are | |his Mingan—a mark of |
| |therefore used for | |extreme condescension. |
| |fetish, and Goro, | |Nor was he less pious: |
| |cannot be beaten, | |on his first visit to |
| |_i.e._, by thunder. His| |his sire’s tomb, he was|
| |strong names are: 1. | |accompanied by forty- |
| |Thunder never misses | |eight men, who were |
| |the tree it aims at. 2.| |slain from time to |
| |A hungry man never eats| |time, that he might |
| |earth, but only food; | |“walk in blood all the |
| |so the surrounding | |way from Kana to |
| |people, being his food,| |Agbome, to see his |
| |he will not leave them.| |father.” He determined |
| |3. All nations must sit| |to follow in the path |
| |down, and not attempt | |of Tegbwesun, and to |
| |to attack Dahome. | |repress the seraglio |
| | | |disorders, which had |
| |The History calls him | |disgraced the last |
| |“Wheenoohew” (Weenohoo,| |reign; and finally he |
| |according to Commander | |“cautioned all to avoid|
| |Forbes), a name | |getting into scrapes |
| |completely | |with him, since, if |
| |unintelligible to the | |they did, they would be|
| |people. It also | |sure to repent of it, |
| |mentions a title, Se- | |for he knew nobody, nor|
| |do-zaw, “Wherever I | |was he inclined to make|
| |rub, I leave my scent.”| |any new acquaintances.”|
| | | | |
| |The mother of this king| |In 1790, Agongoro |
| |was called Senume. | |attacked Baigee |
| | | |(Gbweji, a place in |
| | | |Makhi), the result |
| | | |being the death of the |
| | | |Gau, by sickness, and a|
| | | |few victims for the |
| | | |paternal grave. He shed|
| | | |tears when told that |
| | | |the King of Allada had |
| | | |made a feast to |
| | | |celebrate his father’s |
| | | |death, but on account |
| | | |of the Oyos he dared |
| | | |not attack that |
| | | |injurious prince. The |
| | | |army was again sent |
| | | |against the Makhis, |
| | | |under a new Gau, who, |
| | | |failing, was ordered to|
| | | |attack the Whydahs. A |
| | | |third unsuccessful |
| | | |expedition threatened a|
| | | |famine, and Agongoro is|
| | | |known in history as one|
| | | |of the most unfortunate|
| | | |of Dahoman monarchs. |
| | | | |
| | | |Presently, 300 |
| | | |prisoners, and |
| | | |afterwards 170 Makhi |
| | | |captives, were brought |
| | | |in to fill Sin-men- |
| | | |kpen’s grave, and a |
| | | |Makhi country near |
| | | |Iketu supplied 1000 |
| | | |victims for the |
| | | |approaching Grand |
| | | |Customs, which take |
| | | |place only after the |
| | | |death of a King. |
| | | | |
| | | |M. Gourg, the French |
| | | |Governor at Whydah, |
| | | |presently made himself |
| | | |obnoxious. He was |
| | | |seized, bound, and |
| | | |exposed on the beach, |
| | | |till a canoe could be |
| | | |found to carry him |
| | | |through the heavy surf.|
| | | |He died on board the |
| | | |ship Rouen, _en route_ |
| | | |towards Cape François. |
| | | | |
| | | |In January, February, |
| | | |and March, 1791, took |
| | | |place the Grand |
| | | |Customs, at the |
| | | |capital. Captain Fayrer|
| | | |and Mr. Hogg, Governor |
| | | |of Apollonia, were |
| | | |present, and both |
| | | |affirm that not fewer |
| | | |than 500 men, women, |
| | | |and children, were |
| | | |victimized. |
| | | | |
| | | |Dr. M‘Leod’s Voyage to |
| | | |Africa so confuses |
| | | |dates and documents |
| | | |between 1803, the year |
| | | |of his visiting Dahome,|
| | | |and 1820, that it is |
| | | |impossible to make out |
| | | |from his pages the date|
| | | |of Agongoro’s demise. |
| | | |He says, “an instance |
| | | |of this sort (_i.e._, |
| | | |setting aside the |
| | | |eldest son and heir) |
| | | |occurred, however, at |
| | | |the demise of the late |
| | | |King, Wheenoohew |
| | | |(Agongoro), when the |
| | | |eldest son’s right of |
| | | |primogeniture, was |
| | | |disallowed, because one|
| | | |of his toes, from some |
| | | |accident, overlapped |
| | | |the other (Commander |
| | | |Forbes calls it a club-|
| | | |foot); and his next |
| | | |brother, the present |
| | | |King, who, with respect|
| | | |to form, is certainly |
| | | |‘a marvellous proper |
| | | |man,’ was elected in |
| | | |his stead.” |
| | | | |
| | | |This seems to point to |
| | | |King Gezo, but as I |
| | | |have stated, Dr. |
| | | |M‘Leod, though |
| | | |repeatedly alluding to |
| | | |the reigning monarch, |
| | | |never quotes his name. |
| | | |Captain John Adams |
| | | |(Remarks on the Country|
| | | |from Cape Palmas to the|
| | | |River Congo: Whittaker |
| | | |& Co., London, 1823) |
| | | |leaves us in equal |
| | | |ignorance, perhaps for |
| | | |the same reason, viz., |
| | | |that he did not know it|
| | | |himself. |
| | | | |
| 8. |Gezo, the father of the| 1818. |Gaze, being a man with |
| |ruling King, derived | |a peaceful character, |
| |his natural name from | |and afflicted with |
| |the initial word of a | |gibbosity, yielded his |
| |phrase, Gezo emasigbe, | |throne to a younger |
| |meaning Ge (a kind of | |brother, Gezo, who |
| |red bird, whose | |therefore was not, as |
| |feathers fire will not | |Commander Forbes stated|
| |burn), zo (fire, fiery,| |(Chapter I.), a |
| |red), e (he), másí (is | |usurper, and died in |
| |not afraid), gbe (of | |July 24, 1861. Another |
| |bush). His strong names| |brother, Adanzan, |
| |are: 1. A charm that | |raised, as is |
| |nothing in the world | |customary, a mutiny: he|
| |can withstand. 2. | |was put down, and |
| |Having killed the | |still, I believe, |
| |surrounding enemies, | |survives, a state |
| |the rest come to beg. | |prisoner. |
| |3. A leper is not | | |
| |embraced: he is like a | |According to Commander |
| |person with such | |Forbes, Gezo behaved |
| |sickness that no nation| |treacherously to |
| |will touch him. | |Achade, chief of the |
| | | |Republic of Jena (whom |
| |Some resident Europeans| |others call chief of |
| |believe that Atinglí is| |Leflefu). On the death |
| |also a royal name: it | |of Onsi, King of Jena, |
| |belonged to one of his | |the heir-apparent, |
| |headmen, and was also | |Dekon, being turned |
| |the beginning of a | |out, applied for aid to|
| |phrase, _e.g._, Atingli| |Dahome. Gezo, who had |
| |(a sharply cut stump), | |just got rid of his |
| |do (in the ground), | |brother, Adanzan, |
| |kuno (does not), sinden| |marched upon the town, |
| |(fear aught). | |which had become a |
| | | |Republic, with Achade |
| |Agontime was the mother| |as president. The |
| |of Gezo. | |Dahoman army was |
| | | |repulsed during three |
| | | |several years, for |
| | | |Gezo, unlike his son, |
| | | |had only an annual |
| | | |slave hunt. Gezo then |
| | | |made peace, and swore |
| | | |eternal friendship with|
| | | |his gallant foe, who |
| | | |was invited to be |
| | | |present at the Dahoman |
| | | |Customs, hostages being|
| | | |sent to him. After two |
| | | |years, Achade, |
| | | |neglecting all |
| | | |precautions, went to |
| | | |Agbome with nearly 1000|
| | | |traders. During the |
| | | |platform sacrifice, he |
| | | |was suddenly seized, |
| | | |thrown, and beheaded, |
| | | |his cranium being |
| | | |placed in a copper |
| | | |casing. Dekon, invited |
| | | |to Jena, went there, |
| | | |and was beheaded. The |
| | | |town was destroyed by |
| | | |the next annual slave |
| | | |hunt, and the survivors|
| | | |fled to Abeokuta. |
| | | | |
| | | |Finding the enemies of |
| | | |his race, the Oyos, in |
| | | |trouble with the Fulas |
| | | |and Hausas, who, in |
| | | |1825, destroyed |
| | | |Katunga, their capital,|
| | | |Gezo attacked them at |
| | | |Kana, and completely |
| | | |subdued them. The |
| | | |tribute was abolished, |
| | | |and most of the Oyos |
| | | |were enlisted into the |
| | | |King’s service. Gezo |
| | | |then pretended to |
| | | |attack Ashante, and in |
| | | |testimony of his |
| | | |conquest built the |
| | | |Komasi Palace. |
| | | | |
| | | |After many minor |
| | | |successes, the warlike |
| | | |King attacked, in 1840,|
| | | |the Attakpamwe, a |
| | | |people living to the |
| | | |west of Dahome: all |
| | | |except 400 men fled: |
| | | |these defended |
| | | |themselves bravely, but|
| | | |were soon overpowered |
| | | |by the Amazons. The |
| | | |latter was a favourite |
| | | |arm with Gezo, who |
| | | |often boasted that he |
| | | |had first organized it.|
| | | |It raised him high |
| | | |amongst the surrounding|
| | | |kings and chiefs, who |
| | | |declared an alliance |
| | | |with each other, and a |
| | | |determination to make a|
| | | |distaff of Gezo’s |
| | | |head—a declaration |
| | | |equivalent to a _casus |
| | | |belli_. About 1839 he |
| | | |attacked the Makhis, |
| | | |and broke, it is said, |
| | | |126 towns. Next year he|
| | | |fell upon the Nagos, |
| | | |who had ravaged his |
| | | |frontier, and signally |
| | | |punished them. |
| | | | |
| | | |In 1842, the King was |
| | | |visited by a coloured |
| | | |Wesleyan missionary, |
| | | |Rev. T. B. Freeman, who|
| | | |reported highly of |
| | | |Agbome and of its |
| | | |contents. |
| | | | |
| | | |During the life of |
| | | |Shodeke, chief of |
| | | |Abeokuta, there was |
| | | |friendship between the |
| | | |Dahoman and the Egba. |
| | | |When Sagbwa succeeded |
| | | |him, quarrels began—an |
| | | |Amazon corps was |
| | | |defeated at Ado, a |
| | | |frontier town, and lost|
| | | |its officers and |
| | | |umbrella. Gezo swore |
| | | |revenge. |
| | | | |
| | | |In 1848, a chief named |
| | | |Olikiki induced the |
| | | |King to attack Okeadon,|
| | | |some thirty miles |
| | | |north-west of Badagry. |
| | | |Gezo pretended to march|
| | | |on Abeokuta, fell back |
| | | |in the night, and was |
| | | |introduced by the |
| | | |traitor into the city. |
| | | |It is said that 20,000 |
| | | |Otas were seized and |
| | | |sold: there was no |
| | | |resistance: the sick |
| | | |and aged were slain, |
| | | |and many fugitives were|
| | | |drowned in the rapid |
| | | |river. |
| | | | |
| | | |In October, 1849, Gezo |
| | | |was visited by the late|
| | | |Commander Forbes and |
| | | |Mr. Vice-Consul Duncan,|
| | | |who had travelled |
| | | |through the country in |
| | | |1845-46. They were |
| | | |received at Agbome, |
| | | |with the usual |
| | | |ceremonies, by the |
| | | |King, who showed them |
| | | |the wooden model of a |
| | | |hill in the Makhi |
| | | |country, called Kenglo,|
| | | |which Commander Forbes |
| | | |writes “Kangaroo.” It |
| | | |was a strongly |
| | | |fortified site, and Mr.|
| | | |Duncan had previously |
| | | |complained to the King |
| | | |of having been insulted|
| | | |there. The place had |
| | | |been taken by the |
| | | |Amazons, and its very |
| | | |stones carried to |
| | | |Agbome (Chapter XVIII).|
| | | |On October 29, 1847, |
| | | |Commander Forbes sailed|
| | | |for Sierra Leone, and |
| | | |Mr. Duncan died on |
| | | |board H.M.S. |
| | | |Kingfisher. |
| | | | |
| | | |On May 14, 1851, |
| | | |Commander Forbes, |
| | | |accompanying the late |
| | | |Mr. Beecroft, H.M.’s |
| | | |Consul for the Bights, |
| | | |again landed, and |
| | | |proceeded to witness |
| | | |the Customs of Agbome. |
| | | |Their object was to |
| | | |estimate the King’s |
| | | |expenses, to offer him |
| | | |a compensation for |
| | | |abandoning the slave |
| | | |trade, and to dissuade |
| | | |Gezo from attacking |
| | | |Abeokuta. It is |
| | | |needless to say that |
| | | |they failed, and |
| | | |retired with scanty |
| | | |good will on both |
| | | |sides. |
| | | | |
| | | |On March 3, 1851, Gezo |
| | | |attacked Abeokuta with |
| | | |10,000 to 16,000 |
| | | |troops, men and women, |
| | | |the flower of his army.|
| | | |He was opposed by |
| | | |Ogubonna, the Egba |
| | | |Commander- in-chief, |
| | | |and after a hot |
| | | |contest, was beaten |
| | | |back, losing, chiefly |
| | | |during the flight, by a|
| | | |moderate computation, |
| | | |1,200 of his best |
| | | |fighters. He never |
| | | |recovered from this |
| | | |blow. |
| | | | |
| | | |In 1852, Gezo signed a |
| | | |treaty for the |
| | | |suppression of the |
| | | |slave trade, which was |
| | | |so much waste paper. He|
| | | |then turned towards the|
| | | |French interest, and |
| | | |was twice visited by M.|
| | | |Wallon, Lieutenant de |
| | | |Vaisseau, who escorted |
| | | |a present of two |
| | | |howitzers from the |
| | | |French Government, and |
| | | |carried with him two |
| | | |youths from the palace |
| | | |for education in |
| | | |France. |
| | | | |
| | | |In 1858, Gezo died, |
| | | |after a reign of 40 |
| | | |years, from the effects|
| | | |of virulent small-pox, |
| | | |leaving behind him a |
| | | |great name as a warrior|
| | | |and a king. He had |
| | | |greatly reduced human |
| | | |sacrifice, and had made|
| | | |his principal officers |
| | | |take the fetish oath to|
| | | |prevent the general |
| | | |massacre of woman in |
| | | |the palace. |
| | | | |
| 9. |The natural name is | 1858. |Gelele succeeded his |
| |Gelele, which begins a | |father at the age of |
| |sentence: Gelele má | |38, to the exclusion of|
| |nyonzi—“Bigness, with | |his eldest brother, |
| |no way of lifting.” Mr.| |“Godó,” who was, and is|
| |T. B. Freeman | |much addicted to drink.|
| |erroneously states it | |Other brothers gave him|
| |Glere, or Glery, the | |trouble, though he was |
| |jawbone. His strong | |expressly nominated for|
| |names are: 1. Tenge | |succession by Gezo, |
| |makanfenkpon: A rock, | |after the fashion at |
| |the finger-nail cannot | |Abeokuta. |
| |scratch it—behold! 2. | | |
| |Kini kini kini: Lion of| |For the first two years|
| |lions. 3. An animal | |he contented himself |
| |having cut its teeth, | |with warring down small|
| |evil has entered into | |chiefs, who are |
| |the bush (the bush | |mentioned in Chapter |
| |meaning the surrounding| |IX. Of these he has |
| |tribes, who feel the | |killed about forty. |
| |sharpness of Dahome’s | | |
| |tooth). 4. Ye mabu lo | |In July and August, |
| |sin men: Shadow is | |1860, the King |
| |never lost in water. | |performed the Grand |
| | | |Customs for his father,|
| |The King’s mother, who | |slaying, it is |
| |still lives, is called | |supposed, 2000 men, |
| |Zoindi. | |which number may |
| | | |readily be reduced to |
| | | |500. He destroyed |
| | | |Attako (Taccou), and |
| | | |slew Akia’on (Chapter |
| | | |IX.) |
| | | | |
| | | |Early in 1851, Gelele |
| | | |collected a large force|
| | | |to attack Abeokuta: |
| | | |small-pox broke out on |
| | | |the road, and he was |
| | | |compelled to return. |
| | | | |
| | | |On March 15th, 1862, |
| | | |the King fell suddenly,|
| | | |with 6000 men, upon |
| | | |Ishagga, a town |
| | | |containing about 5000 |
| | | |souls. It had behaved |
| | | |with consummate |
| | | |treachery to his |
| | | |father. He slew the |
| | | |chief, and carried off |
| | | |seventeen or eighteen |
| | | |native Christian |
| | | |converts and a |
| | | |Scripture reader—Mr. |
| | | |William Doherty, of |
| | | |Sierra Leone, and Mr. |
| | | |William Jones, with |
| | | |five men and three |
| | | |women, who were paraded|
| | | |to Whydah, and |
| | | |afterwards reported |
| | | |slain. About this |
| | | |point, however, there |
| | | |are many doubts. Mr. |
| | | |Doherty is said to have|
| | | |been crucified, with a |
| | | |nail passed through his|
| | | |head into a tree trunk,|
| | | |and holding an open |
| | | |umbrella _honoris |
| | | |causâ_. It is supposed |
| | | |that their death was |
| | | |hastened by the |
| | | |earthquake of July 10, |
| | | |which the King thought |
| | | |was the voice of his |
| | | |father calling for more|
| | | |victims. |
| | | | |
| | | |On March 15, 1863, |
| | | |Gelele attacked Igbara,|
| | | |a small Egbado town, |
| | | |and completely |
| | | |destroyed it, carrying |
| | | |off many captives. |
| | | | |
| | | |In December and |
| | | |January, 1862-63, the |
| | | |King was visited by |
| | | |Captain Wilmot, R.N., |
| | | |senior officer on the |
| | | |West Coast of Africa, |
| | | |Captain Luce, R.N., and|
| | | |Dr. Haran, H.M.S. |
| | | |Brisk, attended by the |
| | | |Rev. Peter W. Bernasko,|
| | | |native assistant |
| | | |missionary, Whydah. The|
| | | |officers were most |
| | | |courteously received, |
| | | |but effected nothing. |
| | | | |
| | | |On June, 1863, Gelele |
| | | |marched into the Makhi |
| | | |country with all his |
| | | |army, and after a short|
| | | |campaign, returned |
| | | |back, bearing a few |
| | | |captives. |
| | | | |
| | | |On March 15, 1864, the |
| | | |King attacked Abeokuta,|
| | | |and after a very poor |
| | | |affair, received an |
| | | |exemplary defeat |
| | | |(conclusion of my |
| | | |narrative), which will |
| | | |probably lead to the |
| | | |ruin of Dahome. |
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