A Narrow Escape 
few select corps had rifles, but the majority had 
flint locks. The number of the troops altogether 
could hardly be less than 50,000, including 10,000 
amazons. 
“ After the review the prisoners were beheaded, 
their heads being hacked off with dull knives. 
At the same time the horses and the alligator 
were killed, particular .care being taken that their 
blood should mingle with that of the prisoners’. 
All being over, Mr. Euschart was permitted to 
leave Abomey after having received as presents, 
eight heads of cowries, one piece of country 
cloth and two bottles of rum.” 
As this letter declared that British subjects had 
been deliberately murdered by the king of Da¬ 
homey it caused much excitement in England. 
But this part of Mr. Euschart’s story was a mis¬ 
take. The man crucified and those beheaded, 
while dressed in civilized clothing, were civilized 
Abeokutans. Mr. Doherty was captured and 
went through some dreadful experiences, but 
the king found out that he was a British subject 
and thought it would be wiser to release him 
than to have a war with so powerful a nation. 
After Doherty’s release he told how the king 
was disgusted with the ten commandments 
when, at his own peremptory command, they 
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