Note 302 — Chapter IV · MARKET DAYS

N. W. Thomas, Anthropological Report on the Edo-speaking Peoples of Nigeria, London, 1910, i, 18 sq. That the eight-day week of the Bini has developed from a more ancient four-day week is also the opinion of R. E. Dennett (At the Back of the Black Man’s Mind, pp. 214, 364). The Bini week has been stated to consist of five days (Cyril Punch, quoted in H. L. Roth, Great Benin, Halifax [Eng.], 1903, p. 52 n.¹), but this is certainly an error. An early traveller among the Bini declares that their Sabbath “happens every fifth day, which is very solemnly observed by the great with the slaughter of cows, sheep, and goats, whilst the commonalty kill dogs, cats, and chickens, or whatever their money will reach to. And of whatever is killed, large portions are distributed to the necessitous, in order to enable them, as every person is obliged to celebrate this festival” (David van Nyendael, “A Description of Rio Formosa, or the River of Benin,” in W. Bosman, A New and Accurate Description of the Coast of Guinea, London, 1705, p. 456).