Chapter I: Front Matter

The Memorial Edition
OF THE
WORKS
OF
CAPTAIN
SIR RICHARD F. BURTON,
_K.C.M.G., F.R.G.S., &c., &c., &c._

* * * * *

VOLUME III.

This Memorial Edition
OF
THE WORKS OF
CAPTAIN SIR RICHARD F. BURTON
IS
DEDICATED
TO
ALL ENGLISH-SPEAKING PEOPLES,

Who respect and honour the name of RICHARD BURTON, the Soldier, Linguist, Scholar, Explorer and Discoverer, Poet, Author, and Benefactor to Science; in recognition of the labours of a long and honourable life, devoted to the Service of his Country, and to the advancement of its Knowledge and of its Literature.

A MISSION
TO
GELELE, KING OF DAHOME.

* * * * *

_IN TWO VOLUMES._

VOLUME I.

A MISSION
TO
GELELE, KING OF DAHOME

WITH NOTICES OF
THE SO-CALLED “AMAZONS,” THE GRAND CUSTOMS,
THE YEARLY CUSTOMS, THE HUMAN SACRIFICES,
THE PRESENT STATE OF THE SLAVE TRADE,
AND
THE NEGRO’S PLACE IN NATURE.

BY
CAPTAIN SIR RICHARD F. BURTON,
K.C.M.G., F.R.G.S., &c., &c., &c.
(LATE COMMISSIONER TO DAHOME,)
AUTHOR OF “A PILGRIMAGE TO AL-MADINAH AND MECCAH.”

EDITED BY HIS WIFE,
ISABEL BURTON.

“If a man be ambitious to improve in knowledge and wisdom, he should travel into foreign countries.”—PHILOSTRATUS IN APOLL.

“Every kingdom, every province, should have its own monographer.”—GILBERT WHITE.

Memorial Edition.

* * * * *

IN TWO VOLUMES.

VOLUME I.

LONDON:
TYLSTON AND EDWARDS.
MDCCCXCIII.
_(All rights reserved.)_

Printed for the Publishers at
THE MECCAN PRESS,
3, Soho Square, London, W.

CONTENTS
OF
THE FIRST VOLUME.

* * * * *

PAGE.

Preface to the Memorial Edition xi

Preface to the First (1864) Edition xiii

CHAPTER.

I.—I Fall in Love with Fernando Po 1

II.—I do not become “Fast Friends” with Lagos 14

III.—We enter Whydah in State 17

IV.—A Walk round Whydah 36

V.—From Whydah to Alladá, the Half-way House 76

VI.—From Allada to Agrime 110

VII.—Small Reception at Agrime, and Arrival at Kana, the 121
King’s Country Quarters

VIII.—The Procession 133

IX.—The Reception 154

X.—The March to Agbome 184

XI.—The King enters his Capital 202

XII.—The Presents are delivered 213

XIII.—Of the Grand Customs and the Annual Customs generally 228

XIV.—The King’s “So-sin Custom”

Section A. 232

Section B. 248