Within the palace, the heads of persons, newly put to death, were strewed at the distance of a few yards in the passage, which led to his apartment.

This custom of human sacrifice by the King of Dahomey was not on one occasion only, but on many; such as on the reception of messengers from neighbouring states, or of white merchants, or on days of ceremonial.

But the great carnage was once a year, when the poll-tax was paid by his subjects.

A thousand persons, at least, were sacrificed annually on these different occasions.

The great men, too, of the country, cut off a few heads on festival-days.