“On the neutral ground where we stood facing the pavilion (while the mayo and ce-a-boo-gan grovelled in the dust like mandarins kow-towing to the royal chair) roamed an ostrich, an emu, several dwarfs, hunchbacks, and albinoes, besides troops of dogs of almost every country and variety. All the ministers and carbooceers were arrayed in red-striped flowing robes laden with necklaces of coral and other beads. Each wore a scimitar, a short sword, and a club. “Presently, under a salute fired from musketoons and small brass pieces within the court and cannon outside, the king arrived, dressed in a white silk flowing robe flowered in blue and a gold-laced hat, and took his seat in a sofa under the pavilion. Forthwith the bands struck up and the heralds proclaimed that Gézo, the Leopard and the Hawk, had taken his place; fifty-eight ministers and carbooceers at the same time marched three times in single file, and at the third time all prostrated and kissed the dust. So soon as this ceremony was concluded the business of the day commenced. This is a public display of the monarch’s wealth, carried on the heads of slaves through the town to the market and back again. The procession consisted of between six and seven thousand people.” To enumerate, however, every item of “wealth” carried by these six or seven thousand individuals would certainly be to weary the reader, even though she were a lady, loving, next to possessing gold and gems, to hear and read about them; besides, there is much among the Dahomey “crown jewels” which the said lady reader could match in point of value in her wash-house or lumber-room. Let us take a few notes of the members of the procession:-- 52 women carrying white flowered vases. 6 carrying jars. 10 carrying French ornaments under glass shades. 1 carrying a washing pan. 1 carrying a crimson cushioned rocking chair. 1 carrying a box. 1 carrying a washing-stand. 1 carrying a toilette table, drawers, and glass. 2 carrying stools. 3 carrying banners. 1 carrying a skull in a copper pan. 2 carrying calabashes full of skulls. 2 carrying shields. Head bunseh’s mother in scarlet, wearing a Life Guardsman’s helmet and plumes, and attended by a lady in Charles II. hat and plumes, both magnificently dressed. 8 Malam’s wives. Band of 20. Guard of 100. Band of 12. 4 women carrying pans of skulls. 2 carrying jars surmounted with skulls. 1 carrying a large pan of skulls. 1 carrying a banner. 2 carrying umbrellas over the king’s women and attendants, in crimson cloth dresses and slouched hats trimmed with gold. Band of 20. Guard of 30. 2 women carrying pans of skulls. 2 carrying jars of skulls. 2 carrying a banner and two umbrellas each. King’s grandmother, in head-dress of silver, crimson and silver robe and train, held by a maiden bearing a gold-headed stick. One of the King’s grandfather’s widows in scarlet and gold. 1 man carrying a banner.