Note 42 — Chapter III
Reading edition
The words mean literally, Podo-ji (he who steps in), No-to (the interior court of any royal house or palace-yard). The more common expression is Légédé. It denotes a spy or reporter, with whom every official in Dahome is provided. The “miching malecho” system is here perfect: if a captain is sent to prison, he must be accompanied by his Légédé, who prevents the wives sending food, and who is answerable for the sentence being carried out in its strictness. Dr. M‘Leod (p. 86) quotes a native saying, “The swish walls can speak in this country.”