DAHOMY, 
813 
their ancient practice seems to be marked by their 
ordinary phrase of eating their enemies, by which 
they denote taking them alive. Though the mar- 
tial genius of the Dahomans remains unaltered, 
their military exploits have not been remarkable 
since the reign of Guadja Trudo, the conqueror 
of Whida Ardra, Torree, Didouma, Ajirah, and 
Jacquin, who died in 1731. Guadja Trudo was 
almost as good a conqueror as any barbarian that 
was ever dignified with that appellation. He 
waded to glory through seas of blood, I am not 
sure if we may call it innocent ; if he did not 
exhibit true magnanimity, he always displayed 
what is equally good for a conqueror, a true belli- 
gerent insensibility to the miseries of his own, and 
of every other nation ; and, when he could not 
lead the Dahomans, he drove them to victory. 
His policy was that of an ambitious savage, who 
sought to retain the territory he had conquered, 
by burning the towns, and massacring the inha- 
bitants ; but his views w^ere more extensive than 
those of his countrymen, and the character given 
of him by Snelgrave appears to be just ; who de- 
clares, that he found him the most extraordinary 
man of his colour with whom he had ever con- 
versed. His fame still remains in Dahomy, 
where his memory is revered, and where, in the 
most solemn oaths, they swear by his name. 
Bossa Ahadee, and Adahoonzou, the son and 
