Chapter VII: Book I (4)

There resided at that Place, a _Dutch_ Gentleman named _Mynheer Hertog_. This Person carried on a considerable Trade, with the help of his black Servants, into several distant Countries, by means of a River that runs from _Jaqueen_ into the Bay of _Bennin_. Having gained a great influence over the King of _Jaqueen_, they often consulted together, sending private Messages by the Traders to the King of _Weemey_, and other neighbouring Princes, to stir them up against the King of _Dahomè_, and withal supplied them with Ammunition. Of this the King of Dahomè having received Intelligence, and also that the People of _Jaqueen_ were going to build a Fortification by the Directions of the _Europeans_ residing there; he resolved to attack them, in order to be revenged.

The better to deceive them, he gave out, that he intended a second Expedition far inland: And to blind the _Jaqueen_ Spies, he gave Order to his General to march towards the inland Parts, but in the Night the Army wheeled about, and with great Expedition (tho’ there were above fifteen thousand men in this Army) they came by the way of _Whidaw_ to _Jaqueen_, without being discovered, till they were just entring the Town.

As the People of _Jaqueen_ stood always in dread of the King of _Dahomè_, (as I have just now mention’d) they kept in readiness a great many _Cannoes_ in the River that runs on the back part of the Town, to save themselves, in case they should be attacked and defeated. But being now surprized, they had little time to provide for their own Safety: However, the King and many of his principal People escaped in the Cannoes, to an Island he had fortified against such an Accident, and which lies in the middle of the River towards _Appah_. By that means he escaped the fury of the _Dahomes_; but he lost all his Riches, and, to add to his Misfortune, his Mother, (that was highly reverenced by him and his People) was taken Prisoner by the Enemy, and carried to the King of _Dahomè_; and what became of her afterwards is unknown.

_Mynheer Hertog_, the _Dutch Chief_, was at dinner, when the _Dahomes_ entered the Town: And knowing how obnoxious he had made himself to their King, he immediately fled, being defended by four hundred of his People from the Enemy, till he got into a Cannoe; and then they shifted for themselves. He lost every thing in the Factory, which at that time was full of _European Goods_ to a very great Value. This Gentleman escaped to _Appah_, which lies on the Sea Coast, about ten Leagues to the eastward of _Jaqueen_. He was kindly received by the King and People, who have a great aversion for the _Dahomes_.

In the Town of _Jaqueen_ the Conquerors met with a great deal of Plunder, the Inhabitants not having had time to carry any thing away. But not satisfied with this, they made, according to their barbarous Custom, a terrible Carnage of the People; and to compleat the Destruction of the Country, set all the Towns and Villages on fire.

There were at this time in _Jaqueen_ several _Europeans_, who fared little better than the Natives; their Factories being plundered of every thing. Amongst the rest there was Captain _Robert More_ Commander of the _Squirrel Galley_, belonging to the late _Humphrey Morrice_ Esq; This Gentleman being taken Prisoner with the white Men in his Factory, (as the _French_ and _Portuguese_ also were in theirs) was obliged to travel with them to the King of _Dahomè_, who then resided at _Ardra_, about fifty Miles within Land. And they were not so much as provided with Hammocks, or any other Carriages, but forced to walk on foot in the scorching Sun, which had like to have kill’d them.

Upon their appearing before the King, Captain _More_ complained of his hard usage; telling his Majesty, “They had had no Victuals nor any Refreshment since they had been taken Prisoners.” The King thereupon rose up, and went into an inner room; whence coming out again with a Hatchet in his Hand, the sight of it so frightned some of the _Portuguese_, that they fell on their Knees to implore his Mercy; imagining their Heads were going to be cut off. But Captain _More_ severely upbraiding them for their cowardly Behaviour, so disgraceful to white Men, they rose up: And had soon after the pleasure of seeing a small Cask of Beef opened with it, and several pieces ordered to be dress’d for them. This Cask of Beef, it seems, was found by the Soldiers in the Captain’s Factory, and sent up with other Plunder, to the King, the day before.

Then they were distributed according to their different Nations, and put under the care of several great Men. Captain _More_ and his People were delivered to _Allegee_ the _English_ Cabocier; (as he was termed) that is, the Person appointed to Trade with them in particular. This black Gentleman treated them with great Civility; but they had the Mortification, a few days after, to hear, he was seized and beheaded; tho’ they could never learn the Cause.

It seems the King of _Dahomè_ is grown exceedingly cruel towards his People, being always suspicious, that Plots and Conspiracies are carrying on against him: So that he frequently cuts off some of his great Men on bare Surmises. This, added to the many Disappointments he has met with from the _J-oes_, has so soured his Temper, that he is likewise greatly altered towards the _Europeans_, as Captain _More_ experienced. For this Gentleman had been at his Camp formerly, and was known to him soon after the Conquest of _Whidaw_, as I have related in the former part of this Book.

Besides, both King and People continue as savage as ever, tho’ they have conversed for several Years past with white Men. For one day the Council having begged a Captive, his Majesty readily gave them one, whom they killed and feasted on.

But to return to Captain _More_. He and the other _Europeans_ having continued a good while Prisoners, Mr. _Dean_, the _African_ Company’s Governor of the Fort at _Whidaw_, came to _Ardra_, and interceded with the King for them: Representing, “As they had been at _Jaqueen_ only on account of Trade, it was very unjust to detain them.” With these and many other Arguments, he at last obtained their Freedom: And a Guard was ordered to see Captain _More_ safe down to _Jaqueen_. But he reflecting on the hard usage he had received at that place from the Soldiers, when at first taken Prisoner; and that they still were encamped there, he chose to go by the way of _Whidaw_: From whence he got on board a _French_ Ship, and borrowed their Boat, which carried him to his own Ship, that lay in the Road of _Jaqueen_.

From this and the foregoing Account the Reader may observe, that now all the Countries near the Sea side, which the King of _Dahomè_ could possibly get at, are not only conquered, but also turned into Desolation, with the Inland Parts, in so terrible a manner, that there is no Prospect of Trade’s reviving there again for many Years, or at least so long as the Conqueror lives. What little there is, is carried on chiefly at _Appah_, a place secured from him by a Morass and a River.

_The End of_ BOOK I.