Dahomey as it was

J. Alfred Skertchly

• Publisher: Jazzybee Verlag
• Year: 2022
• Topic: History
• eBook ISBN:
  9783849662851
• Subtopic: African American History
• Index: History

Mr. Skertchly left England in 1871 for the purpose of making zoological collections on the West Coast of Africa. On his arrival at Whydah, he was induced to go up to Abomey, the capital of Dahomey, for the purpose of instructing the king, Gelele", in the use of some guns that had arrived, on the promise that he would be back at Whydah in eight days. The king, however, detained Mr. Skertchly as an unwilling guest for eight months, treating him with the greatest consideration and kindness, and creating him a prince of the country. The greater part of Mr. Skertchly's work is occupied with a description of the protracted annual " customs, " as they are called, of Dahomey, which consist of elaborate and harmless trivial ceremonies, mixed up with much that is revolting and cruel; the details of these Mr. Skertchly describes in minute detail. He has evidently a considerable admiration both for the Dahomans and Ashantees, especially for the former, whom he considers not nearly so cruel as the latter, though both equally brave and remarkably well- disciplined as soldiers. He defends the Dahomans from the charge of intentional cruelty in the barbarously performed human sacrifices which form so important a part of their customs, and we think he succeeds; the victims, who are all either criminals, or prisoners of war, are sent as messengers to deceased kings.

Table of contents

• PREFACE
• CHAPTER I. ARRIVAL IN DAHOMEY.
• CHAPTER II. AN EXCURSION NEAR WHYDAH.
• CHAPTER III. THE WHYDAH LIONS.
• CHAPTER IV. JOURNEY TO THE CAPITAL
• CHAPTER V. JOURNEY TO THE CAPITAL (Continued).
• CHAPTER VI. RECEPTION AT KANA.
• CHAPTER VII. JOURNEY TO ABOMEY.
• CHAPTER VIII. THE AMAZONIAN SALUTE.
• CHAPTER IX. THE SO-SIN CUSTOM.
• CHAPTER X. THE SO-SIN CUSTOM — (continued).
• CHAPTER XI. THE SO-SIN CUSTOM –– (continued).
• CHAPTER XII. THE BUSH KING'S SO-SIN CUSTOM.
• CHAPTER XIII. PRESENTATION AT COURT.
• CHAPTER XIV. JOURNEY TO THE KONG MOUNTAINS.
• CHAPTER XV. THE ATTOH CUSTOM.
• CHAPTER XVI. THE ATTOH CUSTOM –– (continued).
• CHAPTER XVII. THE WELCOME FROM THE KING.
• CHAPTER XVIII. THE BUSH-KING'S ATTOH CUSTOM
• CHAPTER XIX. THE SIN KWAIN CUSTOM.
• CHAPTER XX. THE SIN KWAIN CUSTOM-(continued).
• CHAPTER XXI. THE ANLIN CUSTOM AND THE PAYMENT OF THE TRIBUTE.
• CHAPTER XXII. THE AZAN-GBEH –– THE GUN CUSTOM
• CHAPTER XXIII. THE FINAL LEVEE.
• CHAPTER XXIV. THE DAHOMAN CONSTITUTION.
• CHAPTER XXV. THE AMAZONS.
• CHAPTER XXVI. THE DAHOMAN RELIGION.
• CHAPTER XXVII. MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF THE DAHOMANS.
• CHAPTER XXVIII. CONCLUSION.
• APPENDIX. THE ASHANTEES.