THE KING OF WHYDAH.

Waipawa Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 2502, 6 September 1890, Page 7

THE KING OF WHYDAH.

(pECK’B SUN.) A SAVAGE POTENTATE WHO MAINTAINED A THOUSAND WIVES. The King of Whydali’s wives were objects of special care to himself and of enforced veneration to his people. The favourite ones lived in the palace with him ; the others were accommodated in adjoining buildings. No men were employed in the royal household, and the king whs served solely by his wives. When visitors came to see the king he received them alone, taking good care that his wives were out of sight. It was, indeed, held a sacrilege to so much as look at any of these royal spouses. When repairs, which could not be done by them, were needed in the palace, they migrated from the affected portion, and the plumbers and glaziers coming in had to- keep on shouting out the whole time they were at work, in case any of the wives not acquainted with the fact of their presence, should happen to pass that way. When the King’s wives set out to work in the plantations, which they did every morning in batches of 300 to 400 at a time* they used to cry “ stand clear,” as they went, and any men who were in their path prostrated themselves, and did not dare to raise their eyes till they had passed. On account of the awe in which his wives were held, the king found them a very useful and speedy executive to carry out his commands. If any person was found guilty of a crime the king sent a detachment of his wives round to the man’s house in order to strip it of its goods aud pull it down. This was usually very soon effected, for on the approach of the king’s wives the man was unable to remain and defend his property. One instance, however, is related by Bosman, in which a native was clever and bold enough to thwart this powerful authority. Hearing that he had been accused before the king, and that a company of the king’s wives had been sent to wreck his house, he collected all the gunpowder he possessed, and, placing it in a heap just beneath his door way, he awaited the arrival of his spoilers, fire-brand in hand. When they approached, and cried in the usual formula, “ Make way for the king’s wives,” he replied that he would not stir from the spot on which he stood, and if they attempted to cross his threshold he would blow himself and all of them up together. This threat brought the good women to a halt, and after a consultation among themselves they determined to return to the king and inform him of the reception they had met. But their intended victim was too quick for them. Slipping round another way, he reached the king first, and cleared himself of the accusation so satisfactorily, that the order against him was countermanded. This attempt, Bosman remarks, was a very bold one, requiring great nerve to carry it through successfully, considering that if it had failed a painful death would have been the punishment. The king’s supply was kept up to the full number by three of his chief captains, who had very little els® t© do than select and procure for him the moat beautiful virgins. A fresh wife, after presentation, lived with the king three or four days, after which she was relegated to the quarters occupied by the other wives, and became, practically, a nua for the rest of her life, with the unenviable privilege of working like a slave on fhe king’s estate. Under these ©ireumstancos it is not a matter of surprise that the honour of a royal alliance was little coveted among maidens, sumo of whom had even been known to prefer a speedy death to the distinction. Bosman mentions the story of a young girl, who, having been selected for this purpose by the captains, ran away, and, on being closely pursued, in her despair, jumped down a well and was killed. “I leave her case,” remarks the sage historian, w to be determined by the ladies.” When each man was so well provided in respect of wives, it was but natural that his children should be proportionately numerous. Bosman has heard in several cases incredible numbers ascribed to one man ; but, doubting the tenth of the statements, ho one day took aside a chief, on whose word he coaid rely, and asked him to tell him candidly how many children ho himself possessed. This was evidently a tender point with fhe chief, for he seemed pained, and at length with a 6igh, apparently of regret, he said : “I must confess that I have only seventy children now living, bnt I have had as many more who are dead.” A hundred and forty was evidently a small number in his estimation, and quite unworthy of a captain of his rank, most of his coin peers possessing at least two hundred. Indeed, he assured Bosman that there was one man who, with his sons and grandsons alone, rose up and defeated a powerful enemy who was coming against the King. This family numbered three thousand men, women, and children.