Note 53 — Chapter XV
Reading edition
Of these women 300 to 400 would be sent to strip the offender’s house, and to lay it level with the ground. But the King of Dahome, it must be observed, distinguishes between his wives and his soldieresses. At Court the former are unarmed, the latter carry weapons, and do not commonly expect his particular attentions. The difference has been overlooked by Dr. M‘Leod (p. 38), and by almost all subsequent writers.