File:Ridpath's Universal history - an account of the origin, primitive condition and ethnic development of the great races of mankind, and of the principal events in the evolution and progress of the (14767369821).jpg

Identifier: ridpathsuniversa08ridp (find matches)
Title: Ridpath's Universal history : an account of the origin, primitive condition and ethnic development of the great races of mankind, and of the principal events in the evolution and progress of the civilized life among men and nations, from recent and authentic sources with a preliminary inquiry on the time, place and manner of the beginning
Year: 1897 (1890s)
Authors: Ridpath, John Clark, 1840-1900
Subjects: World history
Publisher: Cincinnati : Jones
Contributing Library: University of Pittsburgh Library System
Digitizing Sponsor: Lyrasis Members and Sloan Foundation

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e of all dainties, the man-dish. It is brought on with glee, andset steaming under the very nostrils ofthe philanthropist and the missionary!Those who serve in such a case do itwith a horrid relish and good-fellowshipwhich might well excuse the dispositionof travelers to rise upon and destroytheir entertainers in sheer vengeance fortheir savage custom. As illustrative of the social andgovernmental estate of the CentralAfricans we might select character of Da-one of the many petty Slo^Sf0kingdoms and consider it pointed,more attentively. For such purpose wemay refer to the native monarchy ofDahomey, which, next to Ashantee, isthe leading power on the west coast ofthe continent. The country is fertile,and might easily be brought to a highstate of productiveness. Here palm oiland palm wine are abundantly yieldedwith a minimum of expenditure. HereIndian corn, cassava, yams, sweet po-tatoes, cocoanuts, the citrus fruits,plantains, and apples spring in wildabundance and almost without care.
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652 GREAT RACES OF MANKIND. There is therefore in Dahomey everystimulus to the creation of a regular,populous, and wealthy community. Thecircumstances would seem to warrant theexpectations that here the African racewould in a short time rise to a higherlevel of civilization. We find, however,that no such expectation is fulfilled. head of the nation. He is himself afetich. The people are given up to theexcitements of certain re- m, , The king and his curring festivals and orgies customs; the 1 ,-, f October orgy. that go by the name of customs. Over these the king pre-sides. The situation of his country issuch that he is nearly always honored

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