NORRIS — DAHOMEY. 199 



ai» ready to resign it ; or if it be shot through in a battle, 

 I am satisfied, since it is in his service." The main object 

 contemplated in this national anniversary is, that the king 

 may water the graves of his ancestors with the blood of 

 hmnan victims. These are numerous, consisting of pri- 

 soners taken in war, of condemned criminals, and of many 

 seized by lawless violence. The captives are brought out 

 m succession, with their arms pinioned ; and a fetisheer^ 

 laying his hand upon the devoted head, utters a few magic 

 words, while another from behind, with a large scimitar, 

 severs it from the body, when shouts of applause ascend 

 from the surrounding multitude. At any time when the 

 king has a message to convey to one of his deceased rela- 

 tions, he delivers it to one of his subjects, then strikes oflf 

 his head, that he may carry it to the other world ; and if 

 any thing farther occurs to him after he has performed this 

 ceremony, he delivers it to another messenger, whom he 

 despatches in the same manner. 



Another grand object of this periodical festival is the 

 market for wives. All the unmarried females throughout 

 the kingdom are esteemed the property of the sovereign, 

 and are brought to the annual customs, to be placed at his 

 disposal. He selects for himself such as appear most beau- 

 tiful and engaging, and retails the others at enormous 

 prices to his chiefs and nobles. No choice on this occasion 

 is allowed to the purchaser ; in return for his twenty thou- 

 sand cowries, a wife is handed out, and, even be she old 

 and ugly, he must rest contented ; nay, some, it is said, 

 have in mockery been presented with their own mothers. 

 The king usually keeps his wives up to the number of three 

 thousand, who serve him in various capacities, — being 

 partly trained to act as a body-guard, regularly regimented, 

 and equipped with drums, flags, bows and arrows, while a 

 few carry muskets. They all reside in the palace, which 

 consists merely of an immense assemblage of cane and 

 mud tents, enclosed by a high wall. The sculls and jaw- 

 bones of enemies slain in battle form the favourite orna- 

 ment of the palaces and temples. The king's apartment is 

 paved, and the walls and roof stuck over with these horrid 

 trophies ; and if a farther supply appears desirable, he 

 announces to his general that " his house wants thatch," 

 wnen a war for that purpose is immediately undertaken. 



