APPENDIX IV.

CATALOGUE OF THE DAHOMAN KINGS, WITH THE DATES OF THEIR VARIOUS EXPLOITS, THEIR “STRONG NAMES,” AND THE EVENTS OF THEIR REIGNS.

Order. Names. Date of Accession. Various Exploits, etc.

1. His Nyí, or “natural name,” known to all the people, is Dako: also called Do-nun, “Know-thing” (which nobody else knows). Hence the “Tacoodonou” of the History. Like the modern kings, he took (jije) a Nyí Siyensiyen or “strong name,” or title, after every new exploit, and for this object killed one of his mothers-in-law, because she asked for some European cloth which had been promised to her. His principal titles, recited to the gong-gong, are: 1. As he is king, he will lay low all who do not bow to his sceptre. 2. A fetish charm that nothing can harm. 3. Flint-striker is not kept in sheath. 4. He kills a person that the dyeing-pots may be upset. There are many others, equally fanciful and unintelligible. 1625. His princely origin at Allada, and his migration north, are told at length in Chapter V.; his conquest of Adan-we, in Chapter X.; his building the palaces of “Adan-we” and “Danh’s Belly” (whence the corrupted name “Dahome”), in Chapter V. He also conquered Pakhi, a little district between Adan-we and Kana and Addéin, on the left hand coming from the latter place to Agbome. He enthroned himself at Agbome about 1625, and probably was born the beginning of the seventeenth century. His cousin, Sawalu, offended by not having an important post, fled to the Makhi, or northern hillmen; but was defeated by Dako. The heralds place the founder of the dynasty second in order on their list, as he was a captain, not a king, and they speak of him as the “Palm-tree planter.” He died, after a reign of 25 years, at the Adan-we Palace; which, according to some, was given to him by its king, Awesu.

2. His natural name is “Aho,” which has no signification. The History calls him Adahoonzou, which (as Adán-hun-zo) means, Brave soldier has fire or heat. This is probably some princely or trivial title, for the gong- gong begins thus:—“Aho- ho-o-o Demanakpo (he must kill all nations), Ahwandogozo Matonya (ready to meet any enemy unawares), Edo addanun nyanbara ’o” (when he swears against the foe the foe is afraid), &c., &c. His strong names are: 1. He will break the walls of the surrounding peoples to hold Dahome. 2. If the nations have any tricks, they must not come near him, nor go to any place; but they must take him out. 1650. Aho was son of Dako; but after sinning the sin of Absalom, he fled to the bush, and lived long with the hunters in the plantation villages. At his father’s death he returned to Agbome, slew the King Agri, and built over him the Palace of Agri-go-men (Chapter X). He conquered a number of small places, for which reason his name is placed by the heralds at the head of the dynastic list, before that of his father. After reigning 30 years, he died in the Agbome Palace, and his spirit is “watered” at “Aho’s Gate,” opposite the open space called Patin-sa.

3. Natural name Akaba (i.e., A ‘Kábá, “Oh, tall, strong man!”). He is also known as Hwes’ Akabá whence probably the History’s name, “Weebai-gah.” His strong names are: 1. He flung a cutlass, and the owner of the country resigned to him his lands (alluding to his throwing a sword at Yag- haze, the conquered King of Weme). 2. A big club, as he is, he will break down all the surrounding thorns. 3. He was not before death, or he would not have allowed it. 1680. Akaba was the brother of Aho, and wrested the kingdom from his nephew Abosasa, who flying to the Oyos of the north, stirred up a useless war. He was a great conqueror; but the names of few of his conquests have come down to us, the principal being Jegbe, or Jigbe, in “Weme,” near the Nohwe Lagoon, the “Denham Waters” of our charts. According to others, Weme, the Weemy of the History, is near Grand Popo. Some, again, make it part of “Porto Novo.” It has long ago been “broken”; but a few people, it is said, still linger there. Akaba, the last of the pre-historic kings, reigned about 28 years. After his death “it was that, by the assistance of writing, each transient fact was fixed, and scattered information collected into a body; it was then that tradition gave place to record, and legend to history.”

4. Natural name Agaja, which is part of a sentence, meaning, “A branching tree (i.e., one that meets you in all directions) must be lopped before it is thrown into the fire.” The History calls him “Guadja Trudo”: the latter word is a “strong name,” signifying “dashing” (i.e., throwing large presents to people). Mr. Bulfinch Lambe’s surname, Trudo “Audati” is quite unknown to the heralds. Commander Forbes writes, with usual cacography, Agah-jah- dooso. The latter word is “Dosu,” a name universally given in Dahome to a boy born after twins. The fourth king’s principal strong name is: 1. “Dosu asks to see, and then takes by force from the owner.” He is the first king whose mother’s name—Addono—is known, and who claims funereal rites and sacrifices. 1708. This warrior and conqueror, who may be called Agaja the Great, is said also to have usurped the throne. He began by subduing countries to the north-west of Dahome, especially Didouma and Povey, names now unknown. Being refused, by Allada and Whydah a passage to the coast, he captured the former and slew the king, in 1724. He carried to Agbome Mr. Bulfinch Lambe, whose letter from his palace bears date November 27 of that year. He then received the submission and tribute of “Jaquin” (Jackin, or Jakin,) a little maritime country, west of Whydah. He defeated, by stratagem, an army of Oyos, and appeased their king by many presents. In February-March, 1727, he took Savi, capital of Whydah (Chapter V.) with terrible bloodshed, and sacrificed 4000 prisoners. He carried up to Allada forty white men, whom he treated civilly; and in April, 1727, he was visited by Capt. Snelgrave (Catherine galley), who published his observations (“A Full Account of Some Parts of Guinea, and of the Slave Trade,” 8vo), describing the king as “the most extraordinary man of his colour that he had ever conversed with.” After this Agaja turned his attention to the “Tuffoes” (Toffos), who had insulted him, conquered them with 3000 regulars, and sacrificed 400 prisoners, much as is done now. In 1728, the Whydahs, under a captain called “Ossue” (Fosu?) attempted a return to their country, and were protected by Governor Wilson, of the English fort. The perfidy of the French Governor caused his fort to be blown up, and subsequently his death. The Whydahs brought down another army of Oyos, which, after doing great damage, departed. About August, 1729, the Whydahs, under their king, returned to their old settlement, and were protected by the forts. Agaja, having few men, raised the first Amazons (Chapter XV.), beat Ossue, and drove the king into the English fort. Agaja caused Mr. Testesole, the English Governor, who had grossly insulted him, to be barbarously murdered. Having married one of the daughters of the king of Oyo, Agaja signally defeated the Makhis, who had aided his late enemies. The small coast countries, Weme, Jakin, and Akpa (Appah), were driven by fear to revolt, and were supported by the Dutch Governor, Mynheer Hertog. In March 22, 1731-2, an able Dahoman general, with 15,000 men, made the second conquest of Jakin, which he surprised: the king and M. Hertog escaping with difficulty to Akpa. He rifled the European factories, and ordered the offending white men to march on foot to Allada, where, however, he treated them kindly. Agaja the Conqueror was a Scourge of God: the chief object of his wars was conquest, not consolidation; skulls, not men; extermination, not accretion; and this fatal policy he bequeathed to Dahome. After a reign of 19 years, he died in 1727, aged 45.

5. The natural name of the second historic king is Tegbwesun, which belongs to the mysteries of the Bo-Fetish, and, as often happens, begins a phrase: Tegbwesun Au, or avo, (cloth), agbo (the wild bull), ko (neck), kron- kron-gro (no one can take it off). The History, followed by modern popular writers, calls him “Bossa Ahadi,” an appellation now completely unknown to the heralds. His strong names are: 1. He is like the hoe handle, he will break the legs of all nations. 2. The truth of another man’s wife is not doubted. A thing in his hand shall never be taken by any other person. The mother of this king was named Chai. 1727. Tegbwesun succeeded his father, to the prejudice of his eldest brother, Zingah, whom he threw into the sea, it not being lawful to shed royal blood. After seeing his enormous cruelties, the Meu, or second minister, rebelled in 1735, but was crushed and slain by the Gau, or Commander-in-chief, and the rebel’s younger brother was appointed in his stead. The Oyos attacked him in 1738, and invested Agbome. Tegbwesun fled twenty-five miles to Zaffa (a name now unknown), and met Mr. Gregory of the British fort, Whydah, who accompanied him to a hiding-place. The Gau, hearing that his master was in safety, evacuated Agbome, which, as well as Kana, was plundered and burnt. The Oyos returned, and their general was disgraced for not capturing the enemy’s king. They plundered Dahome every year till 1747, when the King agreed to pay them, in November, at Kana, an annual tribute, which lasted till the days of Gezo. In 1750, King Akwasi, of Komasi, crossed the Volta to punish Dahome, and was defeated. Tegbwesun began a war of conquest against the Makhis in 1737: in 1752 his general took the stronghold called Boagry (Bowule?), with great bloodshed, but the war continued, the King being also engaged with the old Whydahs and Popos. In 1764 he again attacked the Boagry mountain, and sent the Meu to supersede the Gau, who at once fled to the Makhis. The Meu was defeated; Jupera, the King’s favourite son, died; and Tegbwesun made peace with the enemy in 1772. The Whydahs ever strove to return to their own, and still crowned their kings at the old capital, Savi (Chapter V.) In 1774 Tegbwesun supported a younger brother of the exiled royal family, who murdered the rightful heir, and devoured his heart, afterwards dying miserably of leprosy. Five or six hundred Whydahs had settled under the protection of Sr. João Bassile, of the Portuguese fort. This gentleman was invited to Agbome, and arrested on the road by the Gau, whose army, marching to exterminate the Whydahs, encamped on “Gonnegee” (Agonji, Chapter III.), to cut off their retreat. The Gau extorted money from Sr. Bassile, till a negro servant in charge of the fort told him that he was being deceived, and warned the Whydahs to defend themselves to the last. The Gau attacked the Portuguese fort, November 1, 1741, entered it after great loss, and put all to the sword. The Governor’s servant blew himself up, and his second in command was roasted over a slow fire at Kana. Tegbwesun set Sr. Bassile at liberty, rebuilt the fort, and disavowed the acts of his general. The treachery of a woman led the Dahomans to Jakin, whose people they extirpated. In 1777, Sin-men-kpen (Adahoonzou II.) re-established a few families there. In 1743, the Whydahs and Popos attacked Whydah with a large host. The Gau was engaged with the Oyos and Makis: the post, however, was valiantly defended by the Kakawo (Caukaow), or local general, by the Yevogan or Viceroy—these two were slain—and by the Savi caboceers. The victorious Whydahs invested and starved the forts, when the King, recalling the Gau, sent him with 50,000 men, and easily drove out the enemy. Tegbwesun appointed, as Yevogan of Whydah, a wealthy eunuch named Tanga. This man, resolving to be King, attempted, in August, 1745, to seize William’s Fort. Mr. Gregory, however, resisted, and the rebel fortified his own house. Warned by his priests that his safety depended upon reaching the English fort, he collected his men, and all his hundreds of wives, to whom he had been “not the rigid jailor, nor the tyrannic usurper of their affections, but the generous arbiter of their liveliest pleasures,” cut one another’s throats. The house then was set on fire: Tanga sallied out, and was at once shot. Shampo, a brother-in-law of Tegbwesun, became the object of his King’s jealousy, and warned by his sister (who sent a knife and noosed cord concealed in victuals), he fled to Popo, and commanded their army till his death, in 1767. The old Gau, who had long and faithfully served the King, was disgraced under the suspicion that he meditated desertion to the Makhis, and was cruelly killed- half beheaded and then strangled. In 1753, Tegbwesun sent another army to reduce the Whydahs and Popos. Shampo drew them on, and, entrapping them in the lagoons, slew all, at a place called Griji, but twenty-four, whom he sent as messengers to the King. Tegbwesun put the survivors to death, with a message to their comrades that he much disapproved of their conduct in war. In 1762, M. Caillié, the French Governor, Whydah, was charged with selling contraband of war to the enemies of Dahome, and was expelled the kingdom. In 1763, the Popos and Whydahs, under Affurey (Fori), son of Shampo, again attacked Whydah (see Chapter IV.) They were defeated by the energy of Mr. Goodson, who, under the name of “Ajangan,” is remembered by the royal family of Dahome to this day. In 1772, Mr. Robert Norris, Governor of William’s Fort, Whydah, visited the King at Agbome, and, like Mr. Archibald Dalzel, in 1766, he was hospitably received. The published account is very interesting, showing how little changed is the complicated Dahoman ceremony during the last century. Tegbwesun died, 70 years old, on May 17, 1774, after a long reign of 47 years. He was the terror of his subjects, but a friend to white men. His palace still exists (Chapter XVIII.) in a place outside Agbome, known as Adan- do-kpo-ji Daho.

6. The natural names are two: Sinmenkpen, the rock in the water—Sín (water), men (in), and kpen (a stone)—and Kpengăla, from Kpen, a rock, and gălá, strong or brave. His strong names are: 1. He is not to give in to anybody, as the sellers do to the buyers. 2. The seller of hoes never puts some into the buyers. The History calls him Adahoonzou II. It is clear, however, from p. 133, that Adan-hun-zo was the princely, and not the royal name. It mentions two of his “titles”: 1, Ai-yaw- soo, or the male oyster, probably from being hard to crack (this is some old Whydah word, which in modern Ffon would be Adankpwen ’su); and, 2, Yee ma sa hoo beate cofru gloh, “an elephant cannot shelter himself under the swish-baskets” (in a dialect which I am unable to determine). The name of this King’s mother is Hunájile. 1774. Sin-men-kpen at once determined to support Eyee, “the monkey,” a Whydah chief, who was contending for the government against Abavou (Agbaba’vun), or the Swampdog, the son of the prince who ate his brother’s heart. “Abavou,” after a stout defence, delivered himself to Dahome as a peace-offering for his men, and was duly beheaded, his calvaria being mummified and preserved with all honour. Upon this, the King, at the instigation of the Meu, the “Cokee” and the “Tovey” (the latter two names and offices now unknown), disgraced his Yevogan, slapped his face, and sent him to a state prison, whence he never emerged. Mr. Lionel Abson, the English Governor, tried to save him, but unfortunately used finesse. The King heard of it, and told his visitor, “I wish you had not been so much of a Dahoman-man as to have made use of any artifice.” In 1775, the King attacked the “Sarrachees” (Siráchí, a Nago or Aku tribe, mixed with the Makhi), who seized his So-gan, or Captain of Horse commanding the rear. This brave man, when pressed to return, refused, sent a message to thank the King, and fell upon his sword. The Sarrachees defeated the Gau, when the command was given to the Po-su, or second general, who was beaten and killed. In 1777, the King sent a large army, under the Gau, who conquered the enemy, and barbarously ravaged the country. In 1778, the King of Allada agreed to attack Appee (Appi Vista) by water, and Dahome to assault by land. The latter had four divisions, led by the Gau, the Po-su, the “Zoheinoo” (Zokenu, the Amazon deputy Mingan, or grand executioneress) and the “Phussupoh” (Fosupo, now the Amazon deputy Meu, but in the days of the History a man officer). Hooroo, an Apee chief, with 800 men, attacked them in the swamp, killed in single combat a Dahoman Captain, Allopwee, and fought till he and his party fell to a man. The victors took 500 male adults, besides women, children, and much booty. The Apees left their King at “Weme,” which was friendly with Oyo, attacked the Alladas, forcing their way through them, and fell upon the Dahoman rear. All the Apees were slain at the next year’s Customs, and five women were barbarously murdered for endeavouring to escape. The King stood over the executioners, who were the women of his palace, instructing them, “not that way—hold your cutlass thus—give it me—’tis so (moen dé, a favourite phrase)—imagine you are chopping wood!” &c. The King then gave each caboceer a string, measuring ten yards, the intended width of road from his capital to the beach. He cut through the Agrime swamp, filled up gullies, and widened the hurdle bridges. Traces of this enlightened labour remain to the present day; Commander Forbes has called this King the Macadam of Africa. In 1781, after the death of the wealthy old Meu, the Oyos demanded, as tribute, 100 of his women. Sin-men-kpen sent his Kakawo to collect them in the Agunah country, and this officer being slain, he marched in person at the head of 800 women. The people fled to Sirachi, but their caves were smoked by fires strewed with pepper, till the two Kings and 1800 subjects surrendered. He of Agunah died on the march. “Sirachi” was thrown from the platform in the normal basket, “tied like a hog.” The year 1782 concluded with a famine and great mortality. In 1783, after a little raid of the Dahomans upon the Badagry beach, Sin-men-kpen sent his Gau, who fell into an ambuscade, and escaped with difficulty, losing the Po-su. The Alladas acted treacherously, and one of the rival chiefs of Badagry, Onum (“son of Prince Davee”) (the other, Ginguem, having been banished by his subjects to Bahia), sent, through the Governor of William’s Fort, Whydah, a long letter to the King, accusing his allies. Sin-men-kpen replied, “My name is Deddi ma tronu” (“Déddé” is slowly; the other words are not intelligible), meaning, “I am easy in my pace, but always in pursuit; let Ardrah take care of his own country.” In 1784, the King, joined by Makhis and Nagos, with guides from Oyo, to which country he promised to send his prisoners, and reinforced by an alliance with the chief of Lagos, attacked Badagry. Prince Davee and his generals, the Oclah and the Po-su, sallied out: the two former were killed, the latter was wounded, and 5000 heads were sold by the Dahoman troops to their King. The Fosupo and Po-su of Dahome went in quest of the enemy’s women, who had fled towards Lagos, and the Alladas duped the victors by plundering the place. The Oyos, also, had a plan of carrying off the Dahomans and their spoil, but they were baffled. The Fosupo, having failed to take the Badagrian women, wiped out the disgrace by applying a loaded pistol to his mouth. The Customs of 1785 were very grand, and as 127 skulls were wanted to complete the decoration of the palace wall, as many people were killed in cold blood. In May, 1786, Weme, which had offended Oyo, was attacked by Dahome, and by 100 Makhi caboceers, with their trains: it was utterly destroyed. By the King’s order, the “Coki,” or second caboceer of Whydah (a name now unknown), and the Kakawo, with 300 soldiers, kidnapped from the “Porto Novo” beach fourteen Frenchmen, one Portuguese, and eighty Gold Coast canoemen. They were ransomed by M. Gourg, Governor of the French fort, Whydah, for £4,600. The King of Allada complained of this outrage to him of Oyo, and the latter sent to Sin-men-kpen, that “Ardrah was Oyo’s calabash, out of which nobody should be permitted to eat but himself.” The Dahomans were greatly alarmed, but presently they attacked the old Whydahs, and carried off a few baskets of salt. In 1788, the King attacked “Croo-too- hoon-too” (supposed to be near Toffo and the Aizoh people, Chapter XXIV.), but the Gau and the Po-su were repulsed. The victors sent five caboceers to beg pardon, and to offer a tribute, which was accepted. The Gau, however, secretly followed them home, and put all the people to the sword. Shortly after this, Agbome and Kana were visited by an earthquake, which shook down part of the palace walls, and extended to Agunah and other places. The King applied for an explanation to the Europeans, who improved to little purpose the occasion, by preaching him. After this we do not hear of an earthquake visiting Agbome till July 10, 1862, when the shock, so fatal to the eastern Gold Coast, startled the present King (Chapter XIV.) In the next year, Sin-men-kpen marched out with six divisions, feinting at Popo, and falling upon the large town of Katoo (Iketu), he butchered the inhabitants, and carried off 2000 slaves. The sixth King died of small-pox, April 17, 1789, after a warlike reign of 15 years. I have alluded to “Lize-hun-zo House,” his palace, in Chapter XVIII. The History mentions one called Gree ma zon baw (Gree, field; má, not; zon, send; ’gbo, goat)—You do not give a goat a plantation to sow corn in (because he eats it all), or, You do not send a goat to make a plantation. At Sin-men- kpen’s death, 595 women were slaughtered by their companions, according to the common usage of the palace.

7. The grandfather of the reigning sovereign bears the “natural name” of Agon-goro, pronounced Agongro, or Agonglo: the derivation is Agon, the Palmyra tree, which is never lightning-struck, and whose leaves are therefore used for fetish, and Goro, cannot be beaten, i.e., by thunder. His strong names are: 1. Thunder never misses the tree it aims at. 2. A hungry man never eats earth, but only food; so the surrounding people, being his food, he will not leave them. 3. All nations must sit down, and not attempt to attack Dahome. The History calls him “Wheenoohew” (Weenohoo, according to Commander Forbes), a name completely unintelligible to the people. It also mentions a title, Se-do-zaw, “Wherever I rub, I leave my scent.” The mother of this king was called Senume. 1789. Agongoro, the son of Sin-men-kpen, had three rivals, two of them his own uncles, but he soon won the day. He began well, reducing the intolerable imposts, enlisting his tax gatherers, and visiting his Mingan—a mark of extreme condescension. Nor was he less pious: on his first visit to his sire’s tomb, he was accompanied by forty-eight men, who were slain from time to time, that he might “walk in blood all the way from Kana to Agbome, to see his father.” He determined to follow in the path of Tegbwesun, and to repress the seraglio disorders, which had disgraced the last reign; and finally he “cautioned all to avoid getting into scrapes with him, since, if they did, they would be sure to repent of it, for he knew nobody, nor was he inclined to make any new acquaintances.” In 1790, Agongoro attacked Baigee (Gbweji, a place in Makhi), the result being the death of the Gau, by sickness, and a few victims for the paternal grave. He shed tears when told that the King of Allada had made a feast to celebrate his father’s death, but on account of the Oyos he dared not attack that injurious prince. The army was again sent against the Makhis, under a new Gau, who, failing, was ordered to attack the Whydahs. A third unsuccessful expedition threatened a famine, and Agongoro is known in history as one of the most unfortunate of Dahoman monarchs. Presently, 300 prisoners, and afterwards 170 Makhi captives, were brought in to fill Sin-men-kpen’s grave, and a Makhi country near Iketu supplied 1000 victims for the approaching Grand Customs, which take place only after the death of a King. M. Gourg, the French Governor at Whydah, presently made himself obnoxious. He was seized, bound, and exposed on the beach, till a canoe could be found to carry him through the heavy surf. He died on board the ship Rouen, en route towards Cape François. In January, February, and March, 1791, took place the Grand Customs, at the capital. Captain Fayrer and Mr. Hogg, Governor of Apollonia, were present, and both affirm that not fewer than 500 men, women, and children, were victimized. Dr. M‘Leod’s Voyage to Africa so confuses dates and documents between 1803, the year of his visiting Dahome, and 1820, that it is impossible to make out from his pages the date of Agongoro’s demise. He says, “an instance of this sort (i.e., setting aside the eldest son and heir) occurred, however, at the demise of the late King, Wheenoohew (Agongoro), when the eldest son’s right of primogeniture, was disallowed, because one of his toes, from some accident, overlapped the other (Commander Forbes calls it a club-foot); and his next brother, the present King, who, with respect to form, is certainly ‘a marvellous proper man,’ was elected in his stead.” This seems to point to King Gezo, but as I have stated, Dr. M‘Leod, though repeatedly alluding to the reigning monarch, never quotes his name. Captain John Adams (Remarks on the Country from Cape Palmas to the River Congo: Whittaker & Co., London, 1823) leaves us in equal ignorance, perhaps for the same reason, viz., that he did not know it himself.

8. Gezo, the father of the ruling King, derived his natural name from the initial word of a phrase, Gezo emasigbe, meaning Ge (a kind of red bird, whose feathers fire will not burn), zo (fire, fiery, red), e (he), másí (is not afraid), gbe (of bush). His strong names are: 1. A charm that nothing in the world can withstand. 2. Having killed the surrounding enemies, the rest come to beg. 3. A leper is not embraced: he is like a person with such sickness that no nation will touch him. Some resident Europeans believe that Atinglí is also a royal name: it belonged to one of his headmen, and was also the beginning of a phrase, e.g., Atingli (a sharply cut stump), do (in the ground), kuno (does not), sinden (fear aught). Agontime was the mother of Gezo. 1818. Gaze, being a man with a peaceful character, and afflicted with gibbosity, yielded his throne to a younger brother, Gezo, who therefore was not, as Commander Forbes stated (Chapter I.), a usurper, and died in July 24, 1861. Another brother, Adanzan, raised, as is customary, a mutiny: he was put down, and still, I believe, survives, a state prisoner. According to Commander Forbes, Gezo behaved treacherously to Achade, chief of the Republic of Jena (whom others call chief of Leflefu). On the death of Onsi, King of Jena, the heir-apparent, Dekon, being turned out, applied for aid to Dahome. Gezo, who had just got rid of his brother, Adanzan, marched upon the town, which had become a Republic, with Achade as president. The Dahoman army was repulsed during three several years, for Gezo, unlike his son, had only an annual slave hunt. Gezo then made peace, and swore eternal friendship with his gallant foe, who was invited to be present at the Dahoman Customs, hostages being sent to him. After two years, Achade, neglecting all precautions, went to Agbome with nearly 1000 traders. During the platform sacrifice, he was suddenly seized, thrown, and beheaded, his cranium being placed in a copper casing. Dekon, invited to Jena, went there, and was beheaded. The town was destroyed by the next annual slave hunt, and the survivors fled to Abeokuta. Finding the enemies of his race, the Oyos, in trouble with the Fulas and Hausas, who, in 1825, destroyed Katunga, their capital, Gezo attacked them at Kana, and completely subdued them. The tribute was abolished, and most of the Oyos were enlisted into the King’s service. Gezo then pretended to attack Ashante, and in testimony of his conquest built the Komasi Palace. After many minor successes, the warlike King attacked, in 1840, the Attakpamwe, a people living to the west of Dahome: all except 400 men fled: these defended themselves bravely, but were soon overpowered by the Amazons. The latter was a favourite arm with Gezo, who often boasted that he had first organized it. It raised him high amongst the surrounding kings and chiefs, who declared an alliance with each other, and a determination to make a distaff of Gezo’s head—a declaration equivalent to a casus belli. About 1839 he attacked the Makhis, and broke, it is said, 126 towns. Next year he fell upon the Nagos, who had ravaged his frontier, and signally punished them. In 1842, the King was visited by a coloured Wesleyan missionary, Rev. T. B. Freeman, who reported highly of Agbome and of its contents. During the life of Shodeke, chief of Abeokuta, there was friendship between the Dahoman and the Egba. When Sagbwa succeeded him, quarrels began—an Amazon corps was defeated at Ado, a frontier town, and lost its officers and umbrella. Gezo swore revenge. In 1848, a chief named Olikiki induced the King to attack Okeadon, some thirty miles north-west of Badagry. Gezo pretended to march on Abeokuta, fell back in the night, and was introduced by the traitor into the city. It is said that 20,000 Otas were seized and sold: there was no resistance: the sick and aged were slain, and many fugitives were drowned in the rapid river. In October, 1849, Gezo was visited by the late Commander Forbes and Mr. Vice-Consul Duncan, who had travelled through the country in 1845-46. They were received at Agbome, with the usual ceremonies, by the King, who showed them the wooden model of a hill in the Makhi country, called Kenglo, which Commander Forbes writes “Kangaroo.” It was a strongly fortified site, and Mr. Duncan had previously complained to the King of having been insulted there. The place had been taken by the Amazons, and its very stones carried to Agbome (Chapter XVIII). On October 29, 1847, Commander Forbes sailed for Sierra Leone, and Mr. Duncan died on board H.M.S. Kingfisher. On May 14, 1851, Commander Forbes, accompanying the late Mr. Beecroft, H.M.’s Consul for the Bights, again landed, and proceeded to witness the Customs of Agbome. Their object was to estimate the King’s expenses, to offer him a compensation for abandoning the slave trade, and to dissuade Gezo from attacking Abeokuta. It is needless to say that they failed, and retired with scanty good will on both sides. On March 3, 1851, Gezo attacked Abeokuta with 10,000 to 16,000 troops, men and women, the flower of his army. He was opposed by Ogubonna, the Egba Commander- in-chief, and after a hot contest, was beaten back, losing, chiefly during the flight, by a moderate computation, 1,200 of his best fighters. He never recovered from this blow. In 1852, Gezo signed a treaty for the suppression of the slave trade, which was so much waste paper. He then turned towards the French interest, and was twice visited by M. Wallon, Lieutenant de Vaisseau, who escorted a present of two howitzers from the French Government, and carried with him two youths from the palace for education in France. In 1858, Gezo died, after a reign of 40 years, from the effects of virulent small-pox, leaving behind him a great name as a warrior and a king. He had greatly reduced human sacrifice, and had made his principal officers take the fetish oath to prevent the general massacre of woman in the palace.

9. The natural name is Gelele, which begins a sentence: Gelele má nyonzi—“Bigness, with no way of lifting.” Mr. T. B. Freeman erroneously states it Glere, or Glery, the jawbone. His strong names are: 1. Tenge makanfenkpon: A rock, the finger-nail cannot scratch it—behold! 2. Kini kini kini: Lion of lions. 3. An animal having cut its teeth, evil has entered into the bush (the bush meaning the surrounding tribes, who feel the sharpness of Dahome’s tooth). 4. Ye mabu lo sin men: Shadow is never lost in water. The King’s mother, who still lives, is called Zoindi. 1858. Gelele succeeded his father at the age of 38, to the exclusion of his eldest brother, “Godó,” who was, and is much addicted to drink. Other brothers gave him trouble, though he was expressly nominated for succession by Gezo, after the fashion at Abeokuta. For the first two years he contented himself with warring down small chiefs, who are mentioned in Chapter IX. Of these he has killed about forty. In July and August, 1860, the King performed the Grand Customs for his father, slaying, it is supposed, 2000 men, which number may readily be reduced to 500. He destroyed Attako (Taccou), and slew Akia’on (Chapter IX.) Early in 1851, Gelele collected a large force to attack Abeokuta: small-pox broke out on the road, and he was compelled to return. On March 15th, 1862, the King fell suddenly, with 6000 men, upon Ishagga, a town containing about 5000 souls. It had behaved with consummate treachery to his father. He slew the chief, and carried off seventeen or eighteen native Christian converts and a Scripture reader—Mr. William Doherty, of Sierra Leone, and Mr. William Jones, with five men and three women, who were paraded to Whydah, and afterwards reported slain. About this point, however, there are many doubts. Mr. Doherty is said to have been crucified, with a nail passed through his head into a tree trunk, and holding an open umbrella honoris causâ. It is supposed that their death was hastened by the earthquake of July 10, which the King thought was the voice of his father calling for more victims. On March 15, 1863, Gelele attacked Igbara, a small Egbado town, and completely destroyed it, carrying off many captives. In December and January, 1862-63, the King was visited by Captain Wilmot, R.N., senior officer on the West Coast of Africa, Captain Luce, R.N., and Dr. Haran, H.M.S. Brisk, attended by the Rev. Peter W. Bernasko, native assistant missionary, Whydah. The officers were most courteously received, but effected nothing. On June, 1863, Gelele marched into the Makhi country with all his army, and after a short campaign, returned back, bearing a few captives. On March 15, 1864, the King attacked Abeokuta, and after a very poor affair, received an exemplary defeat (conclusion of my narrative), which will probably lead to the ruin of Dahome.