His Conquests.
And here ’tis necessary to make a short Digression concerning the King of Dahomè’s Conquests. Being a politick and couragious Prince, he had such Success against his Neighbours, in a few Years, that he conquered towards the Sea Coast, as far as the Kingdom of Ardra, which is the next inland Country adjoining to Whidaw; and then resolved to remain quiet for some time, in order to settle his Conquests. But an Accident soon called him again to Arms, for the King of Ardra having much injured his own Brother, named Hussar; the latter sent privately to the King of Dahomè, and offered him a large Sum of Money to revenge him for the many Affronts he had receiv’d from the King his Brother. This the politick Prince soon listen’d to; and the King of Ardra having discovered the Matter, sent to the Whidaws, representing to them, it was their common Interest to oppose this Conqueror; but they most imprudently refused to lend him their Assistance. So being obliged to encounter alone the King of Dahomè, he met him with all the Forces he could raise, which was about fifty thousand Men of his own People, and after a three Days Engagement, his Army was totally defeated, and himself taken Prisoner. Soon after which he was beheaded in the Conqueror’s Presence according to the barbarous Custom of these black Princes.
Bullfinch Lambe.
There was at that time in the Country of Ardra a white Gentleman, named Bullfinch Lambe, who was detained Prisoner by the King on this occasion: Having been sent by the Governour of the African Company’s Settlement at Jaqueen, on some Business to the King of Ardra, this Prince detained him, under pretence the Company owed him for one hundred Slaves, formerly sent down to their Factory; and he sent word to the Governour, if he did not forthwith pay him this Debt, he would make Mr. Lambe a Slave. Which the Governour refusing to do, he remained a Prisoner about two Years, being used very hardly ’till he was taken in this War by the King of Dahomè: Being brought into the King’s Presence (who had never before seen a white Man) he was treated very kindly by his Majesty, and had, in a short time after, a Houshold appointed for him with many Servants, and the King bestowed on him some of his near Relations for Wives. Having remained with this Prince near three Years, he was at his own earnest Desire, dismiss’d with a noble Present of Gold and Slaves, in order to go for Europe: And his Majesty by a Messenger, to the Towns and Villages he passed through, in his way to Jaqueen on the Sea side, ordered the Inhabitants to shew him all possible Respect, and provide nobly for his Entertainment.
Whidaw invaded.
After this Gentleman’s Departure, the King of Dahomè resolved to invade the Country of Whidaw; which, as I have been told, Mr. Lambe had dissuaded him from; representing the great number of the Inhabitants, who were much used to Fire-Arms. Moreover, that the white People resident and trading there, would no doubt assist them for their own Interest: So that there was no probability of Success. But this politick Prince finding by his Spies, how much the great Men and People were divided, and that the King was only a Cypher in the Government; he marched against them. The first part of the Country he invaded was the northernmost, of which a great Lord named Appragah was hereditary Governour, who forthwith sent to his King for Assistance: But through the Interest of his Enemies at Court, who wished his Destruction, he was refused: So having made a little Resistance, he submitted to the King of Dahomè, who received him very kindly.
The Conquest of Appragah gave the King an easy Entrance into the Heart of the Country; but he was obliged to halt there by a river, which runs about half a Mile to the northward of the principal Town of the Whidaws, called Sabee, the Residence of their King. Here the King of Dahomè encamped for some time, not imagining he could have found so easy a Passage and Conquest as he met with afterwards. For the Pass of the River was of that Nature, it might have been defended against his whole Army, by five hundred resolute Men; but instead of guarding it, these cowardly luxurious People, thinking the fame of their numbers sufficient to deter the Dahomes from attempting it, kept no set Guard. They only went every Morning and Evening to the River side, to make Fetiche as they call it, that is, to offer Sacrifice to their principal God, which was a particular harmless Snake they adored, and prayed to on this occasion, to keep their Enemies from coming over the River.
Snakes worshipped.
And, as worshiping a Snake may seem very extravagant to such as are unacquainted with the Religion of the Negroes, I shall inform the Reader of the Reasons given for it by the People of Whidaw. This sort of Snake is peculiar to their Country, being of a very singular Make; for they are very big in the middle, rounding on the Back like a Hog, but very small at the Head and Tail, which renders their Motion very slow. Their Colour is yellow and white, with brown Streaks; and so harmless, that if they are accidentally trode on (for it is a capital Crime to do it wilfully) and they bite, no bad Effect ensues; which is one Reason they give for their worshipping of them. Moreover, there is a constant Tradition amongst them, that whenever any Calamity threatens their Country, by imploring the Snake’s Assistance, they are always delivered from it. However this fell out formerly, it now stood them in no stead; neither were the Snakes themselves spared after the Conquest. For they being in great Numbers, and a kind of domestick Animals, the Conquerors found many of them in the Houses, which they treated in this manner: They held them up by the middle, and spoke to them in this manner: If you are Gods, speak and save your selves: Which the poor Snakes not being able to do, the Dahomes cut their Heads off, ripped them open, broiled them on the Coals, and eat them. It is very strange, the Conquerors should so far contemn the Gods of this Country, since they are so barbarous and savage themselves, as to offer human Sacrifices whenever they gain a Victory over their Enemies; an Eye-Witness to which I was, as hereafter shall be related.