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.

From all these particulars the humanity of the Slave-trade was inferred, because it took away the inhabitants of Africa into lands where no such barbarities were known.