The Slave-trade provides very constant exercise for the Amazons; because, whenever the King requires slaves, it is necessary to go to war with some neighbour--though of course, his Majesty easily finds a _casus belli_. But the great thorn of vexation in the royal side for the past thirty years and more has been the republic of Abbeokuta. The influence of this free state, in destroying the slave-trade, very naturally brought down the hatred of the King of Dahomey, who is the largest dealer in human flesh on the African coast. More than once he has tried to conquer this sturdy little city. On the 3rd of March, 1851, he appeared before the walls of Abbeokuta at the head of a great army--male and female. A furious attack was made to gain the ramparts, but the rapid, murderous fire of the Egbas drove back the Dahomans with fearful slaughter, and put them to rout. The Amazons led the attack; many were slain--nearly all the slain Dahomans were women--and one or two made prisoners. The King undertook a second expedition against Abbeokuta in March, 1864. At the head of ten thousand picked warriors, and three brass six-pounders, he arrived before the walls on the 16th. The Amazons formed the column of attack, and displayed their accustomed bravery. Directly the signal was given for the assault, they scaled the wall like furies, and for a time threatened to carry everything before them. One Amazon having her right hand cut off, clung to the parapet and killed her adversary with her left, before being hurled back into the ditch. The Egbas received the Amazons with a murderous fire, which thinned their ranks terribly. They were obliged to seek safety in flight, and their example was speedily followed by the whole Dahoman army. The Egbas, sallying forth, pursued the retreating foe, massacring the stragglers without mercy. In this congenial task they were joined by the neighbouring tribes, who turned out in great numbers and joined heartily in the carnage. The King of Dahomey experienced a most disastrous rout, with the loss of three thousand of of his best soldiers, one thousand being slain, and two thousand taken prisoners. THE END. PRINTED BY TAYLOR AND CO., 10, LITTLE QUEEN STREET, LINCOLN-INN-FIELDS. * * * * * Transcriber's Notes: Obvious punctuation errors repaired. Page ii, "Hänsell" changed to "Hänsel" (in Women--Minna Hänsel) Page viii, "South" changed to "Savage" to match chapter text (Savage Africa) Page 7, "betwen" changed to "between" (to a duel between) Page 36, "ruinœ" changed to "ruinæ" (Impavidam serient ruinæ) Page 36, "Elisèe" changed to "Elisée" (when Elisée assisted) Page 42, "left the" changed to "the left" (below the left eye) Page 43, "Langerin" changed to "Langevin" (Renée Langerin--Madlle) Page 43, "Felicité" changed to "Félicité" (Félicité and Théophile de) Page 46, repeated word "to" deleted. Original read (introduced to to the Abbé)