Note 375 — Chapter XIV

The caboceers, like the kings of Dahome, assume a first name or names after any remarkable action or event. Those in the text are taken from the Bo-fetish jargon, and are not intelligible to the vulgar. The first was thus interpreted: Azon-kpo (a training stick), má (not), jí (afraid, synonymous with si, or khe-si), won (portent, evil omen, especially a child); viz., (I am) a club not afraid (to slay), portents (that menace the king). The second was explained, “I will punish all who will not serve my king.” The third means, Sevi (an evil-doer), kanyena (a bad thing), ma-se (never listens), gbo (don’t! or leave off!), ’gbwe! (emphatic, e.g., gbo-’gbwe, I tell you to leave off!); viz., “People plead for offenders, but I will not suffer this if any one harm the king.”