Dahn

Felix, a German historian; born in Hamburg, Feb. 9, 1834. He was Profe or of Jurisprudence succe ively in the universities of Munich, Wurtzburg, Konigsberg, and Breslau. Among his historical works is “The Kings of the Germans.” He has also written epic and lyric poems, remarkable for strong thought, wide horizon, and verbal richne , Dahomey, (native name of the people, Dauma or Dahome), since 1892-1894 a French protectorate in Western Africa, between Lagos (British) and To go land (commen) with an area stated at 4,000 square miles, The eoast sitip is not Dahomey proper, but, as the Slave Coast, is part of French Guinea. The long lagoon which, shut in from the ocean by a protecting bank of sand, affords an easy route along. nearly the whole of this coast, extends in Dahomey from its W. frontier almost to the Denham lagoon in the E. About midway is the port of Whydah, whence a road extends inland to Abomey, a distance of 65 miles. The Avon and Denham lagoons receive the rivers of the country, none of which are very important. The soil is a rich, red-colored clay, and extremely fertile. The people are negroes, of the Ewe group, generally of small stature, but E, 42 very robust and active.’ They are sociable, equally fond of dancing and of rum, but warlike and prone to theft. The Dahomeyan kingdom dated from the beginning of the 18th century, and reached its zenith under Gezo, who ruled from about 1818 to 1858. Since then its power declined, and even its population has fallen off; but little reliance can be placed on the estimates of the numbers which range from 150,000 to 900,000. The army was 10,000 men; the Amazons (devoted to celibacy), who were distinguished for their bravery and ferocity, were about 1,000.