DAHOMAYY. 
underftood among a people unaccuftomed to metaphyfical 
reafoning, a variety of material and Sol dees beings have 
been felected as objets of devotion, fuch as t 
living animals, trees, and other fubftances. 
fetith of Dahomy; the fnake, that of Whydah 
the amulets or charms, the principal is a {crap of parchment, 
containing a pees of the which the natives pur- 
ors who vilit this country. ‘This they 
perha & on t e face of 
anarchy pre 
the appointment of his fucceffor, the government is diffolved ; 
and a horrid fcene commences in the palace immediately on 
the king’s deceafe. His wiv 
furniture of the houfe, the gold an 
utenfils, the coral, and, in fhort, every thing valuable at 
te and the 
permi y one of the women. On his entrance, he 
crawls into the royal shear on his oe and knees, rub- 
court etique White vi 
a glafs of ome cordial liquor, filled by the king himfelf; and 
the refufal t gives offence. When a fubjedt receives a 
favour of thie kind, he lies on his back, while the king holds 
royal hand be withdrawn. 
dience and non-refiftance is univerfal aul e 
and the moft oppreflive mandates of the enceche are : fab- 
mitted to without a murmur. 
Dahomy maintains. a oie derable ftanding 
neral, feveral 
an chiefly depends on the fuccefs of the expeditions in 
ich they are engaged, at the king’s peremptory: and ir= 
vefitable orders. On areca! occafions, all the males, 
able to bear arms, are obliged to repair to the general’s 
ener ; every  Caboceer” (formed from the Portuguefe, 
in Dahomy, 3000 women, at leaf, are immured :. of thefe 
+ 
ie hundreds are trained to the ule of arms, under a fee 
cen evolutions with as muc 
though fimple, open at both e 
notch at the mouth end, is capable of producing very agree- 
able notes; and the king’s women underitand.and praétife the 
combination of the perfeét iia thirds, and fifths, and. 
their little airs are not inelegant. 
The chief part of the ane revenue confifts of volun- 
mea gifts, paid by the fubjects at the etd of the anoual- 
ceremonies, called the * Cuftoms,’’ when the Caboceers and- 
ng their contributions, according to: 
traders attend, bringi 
Befides thefe, a duty is. 
their refpedtive circumitances, 
ner 
put to soe few are referved for fa! 
of which are pear ie equal to half a crown. “All di fourfe- 
ments from the king’s houfe are made in bunches of ftrung 
éowries, containing 2000 each, deduGiing ;’oth part as a- 
ae eS the king’s women for piercing and. fringing: 
Of thefe some pie a confiderable part confifts 
ie an dane tribute paid to a i laa ee the 
ing of Eyeo, fituated north-e rom Dahom The- 
king of Dahomy has feveral sou: , each oc cupying a 
iece of ground nearly a mile {quare; that at Calmina, aie 
ed “ Simbamy,” ora great houfe, is encompaffed: with a 
very fubitantial clay wall, of a quadrangular form, and: 
about 20 feet high. In.the middle of each fide is a guard. 
houfe, with two centinels at the gate, and a guard of arm-- 
ed women and eunuchs within. On the thatched roofs of 
thefe guard-houfes, are ranged, on {mall wooden ftatues, 
many human fkulls. Within are hoe large courts, fur-- 
h 
vt 
= 
a large building, of two ftories, and about 30 o1 4 feet. 
high, fo that the top of it is vifible from withou 
oe to rink. owever, he 
Bea hofp‘tality, and with difhes prepared _by il Yael 
oks. "he table-cloth, on fuch occafioas, is a ne iece « 
of linen, cut off for the purpofe; the difhes a a ew 
or earthen ware; and the knives and forks are filver- handled.- 
The white men ate {cated on chairs; but the caboceers, and. 
ea are placed on the ground near the Europeans, 
who hand them fome of the viGtuals; which they eat, as if 
by ftealth, dupe knife or for 
1¢ drefs the men in Dahon 
en my confifts-of a pair of 
itriped or elite cotton drawers, of the m 
ch 
anufacture of the- 
fame, or o 
vet, 16 or 18 yards, forms cloth fora caboceer. 
ufually covered with a beaver or felt hat ; and the kin 
alfo fome of his minifters often wear a gold or filver iced 
hat, with a feather j the arms and upper part of the body are: 
generally naked ; and the feet are always bare, none.but the. 
fovercig a. 
