THE MARRIAGE MARKET IN DAHOMEY.
The King of Dahomey is looked upon as a god whom it would be profane to imagine required to eat or drink like any other human being. His Majesty, therefore, takes all hie meals alone, in secret, j and anybody who happens to catch him eating, either by design or acoident, is iramodiatly beheaded for fear he ehusld relate that he had seen his Soyerign parttaking of food like an ordinary mortal. If the King becomes thirsty when he i 3 in company, he retires behind a curtain to drink. His Majesty is also compelled to take hie rest in the same secret manner as his food, for no King of Dahomoy is supposed to sleep. AU the female population of Dahomey belong to the King, who Bells a few, once a year, to any subject who may be in want of a wife; or sometimes if a man has performed an act of bravery or pleased the King in any way, a wife is bestowed upon kim free, as a special murk of favor. The price for wives is fixed, but there ie no choice allowed. The oandid&te lays the sum of money at the King's feet, and he may receive in exchange a young girl of 18 or a toothless hag of 60. But he dare not grumble or complain, and can only leave the pulaoe with his bargain. If any wife quarrels with her husband and wishes to leave him, according to an old ouetom she has a right to return to the King's palace. The present monarcb is said to possess only a few hundred wive?, but there have been Kings of Dahomey who possessed 3,000 consorts. All the officale of the Court, when they enter the King'i presence, lie flat on the ground and strike their foreheads on the floor, rb a sign that they humble themselves to dust. Even Themigrau, the chief Minister, is compelled to crawl toward? his Sovereign's feet when he has a communication to make. The women of Dahomey after their marriage lead a mieerable life. They are never allowed to eat with their husbands, and receive any instructions he may wish to give them ontheir knees. No wife would dare to stnnd in her husband's presence without his special permission.
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Waikato Times, Volume XXXIX, Issue 3136, 20 August 1892, Page 2 (Supplement)
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385THE MARRIAGE MARKET IN DAHOMEY. Waikato Times, Volume XXXIX, Issue 3136, 20 August 1892, Page 2 (Supplement)
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