DAHOMEY, an independent state of Guinea, Western Africa, extending along the coast from fort Badagry on the e., to the river Volta, which separates it from Ashantee on the west. Its limits have not been precisely defined, but it is usually regarded as extending back to the Kong mountains. It will thus lie between lat. 6° to 8° 50' n., and long. Or 30' to 3° e.; its breadth being about 200, and its length 180 miles. D. is for the most part a vast plain, rising with gentle ascent from the sea towards the Kong moun tains, with offsets of which it is traversed iu its most northerly parts. Although it has no river of any importance save the Volta on its western boundary, it is well watered by springs and streams; and the soil, a rich, red-colored clay, almost quite free of stones, is extremely fertile. Magnificent trees clothe the hills in the n., and maize, beans, and peas grow in splendid luxuriance on the plains, as well as yams, potatoes, melons. limes, oranges, pine-apples, and other tropical fruits; cotton, sugar, tobacco, and indigo are also raised. The scenery is descilbed as exceedingly varied and beauti ful. Lions, tigers, elephants, hyenas, and enormous snakes of the boa kind abound, The Dahomans, who came into possession of this tract of country about the beginning of the 18th c., are for the most part tall, well formed, and intelligent, and, for an African race, singularly honest, and far advanced in agriculture. With the exception of a few Mohammedans, whose religious belief is in no way interfered with, they are all pagans, and practice fetish-worship. The king is the most absolute of despots. Wholesale murder is one of the chief features in religious and state ceremonies; but, according to rapt. Burton, who •visited D. in 1864, the number of the victims has been greatly
exaggerated. Still, as many as spo human victims are sometimes sacrificed at one "grand custom;" the present king immolated that number at the death of his father. Of the regular army of 15,000, about 2,500 arc Amazons (devoted to celibacy), who are the most effective soldiers, but exceedingly ferocious. The revenue, until recent years, depended greatly upon the sale of slaves; but the vigilance of the cruisers employed to prevent the traffic has reduced this source of income materially. hence the monster slave-hunts which periodically took place are now comparatively rare. In 1876, the coast of D. was placed under a strict blockade by Great Britain, on account of an outrage on a British subject, for which the king of D. refused satisfaction. Pop. 180,000.—ABOMEY, or AG11051E, the capital, is situated about hit. 7° 30' a., long. 1' 40' east. It is stated to be 4 In. in circumference, is surrounded by a ditch and clay walls, pierced by six gates, in each of which are two openings—one for the exclusive passage of the king, the other for his subjects. The houses are mostly of one story, built of clay, and thatched. There are no regular streets, each house standing within its own inclosure of clay wall. There are three palaces belonging to the king here, which differ little from the other houses, save in their greater size. Farms arc culti vated within the city. Pop. about 20,000. The port of D. is Whydah.—See Forbes's Dahomey and the Dahomans ; Burton's Mission to Gelele, King of Dahomey; Skertchly's Dahomey as It is (1874).