Note 334 — Chapter XII

At the Court of Dahome every man must have at least one mother, and she may be twenty years his junior. The King’s actual parent is now alive; when she departs, he must supply her place by selection. For each monarch in the dynasty there is, as will be seen, an old woman mother. The “mothers” of the high officials are the corresponding honours. For instance, the she-Min-gan is popularly called the “he-Min-gan’s mother.” Many have two “mothers,” an old one for the last, and a young one for the present reign. Visitors communicate with the “mothers” of their several nations. As will be seen, “mothers” is the official title of the “Amazons”— hence the custom.