Dahomey as it was

Book excerpt: Mr. Skertchly left England in 1871 for the purpose of making zoological collections on the West Coast of Africa. On his arrival at Whydah, he was induced to go up to Abomey, the capital of Dahomey, for the purpose of instructing the king, Gelele", in the use of some guns that had arrived, on the promise that he would be back at Whydah in eight days. The king, however, detained Mr. Skertchly as an unwilling guest for eight months, treating him with the greatest consideration and kindness, and creating him a prince of the country. The greater part of Mr. Skertchly's work is occupied with a description of the protracted annual " customs," as they are called, of Dahomey, which consist of elaborate and harmless trivial ceremonies, mixed up with much that is revolting and cruel ; the details of these Mr. Skertchly describes in minute detail. He has evidently a considerable admiration both for the Dahomans and Ashantees, especially for the former, whom he considers not nearly so cruel as the latter, though both equally brave and remarkably well- disciplined as soldiers. He defends the Dahomans from the charge of intentional cruelty in the barbarously performed human sacrifices which form so important a part of their customs, and we think he succeeds ; the victims, who are all either criminals, or prisoners of war, are sent as messengers to deceased kings.