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покинув страну Бапенде, я направился на север, через габон
вышел к городу порто-ново на берегу гвинейского залива и отсюда
направился к Уйду, печально знаменитый центр торговли рабами во
времена ловцов "черныхbirds." I had a special reason
visit the "slave coast" and a special invitation.
this reason was that I was informed about the resurrection
fantastic "somin festival", "annual celebration" as
it was called in the days of the slave trade. It was amazing
dance festival, previously accompanied by abundant
human sacrifices when in the market square
Abomey, the capital of Dahomey, cut off the heads of hundreds of people in tribute
ancestors of the king. later people were replaced by sheep and bulls, but even in
this modified version of such a bloody performance
could not be seen anywhere in the world.
Prince Axo of Dahomey sent me a special invitation
nominal ruler of the territory known as
canton of Umbeheim. I wrote to him in the hope of getting information about
some rituals that still exist in Dahomey. He
replied that I could come and see everything with my own eyes.
At that time I was studying African ritual rites and therefore
headed to the notorious slave trading center, fromwhich became known as the “slave coast”.
Dahomey is famous for three reasons. historically it has acquired
infamous as the center of the slave trade in West Africa.
the "leopard society" - a secret sect - also flourished here
beast worshipers, who were credited with the ability to turn into
animals. This is where the cult of voodoo - the cult of worship - takes its origins
dead.
There is probably no more picturesque country in Africa than
Dahomey. although Dahomey is now a French protectorate, it
governed by French law by the direct heir of one of
the most ancient kings of Dahomey.
Legend has it that when the founder of Dahomey, King Daco
was mortally wounded in battle, he called his eldest son
gave him his amulets, sword and scepter and bequeathed to “leave
Dahomey larger than it received." This is a will according to tradition
passed from one king to another, and each subsequent
the ruler enlarged the country by capturingneighboring territories,
their wealth from the slave trade; and borders of Dahomey
finally reached the ocean coast.
The nine kings who succeeded Daco increased their power,
the strength and wealth of this small African kingdom. u
only at the end of the 19th century did the French become alarmed and depose
Beganzin - the tenth king. They founded the canton of Umbeygem in
headed by the "chief of the canton". Daco's heirs were content
now the position of rulers controlled by the French
authorities.
In Ouidah, waiting for me, placed at my disposal
Prince's car with driver. The road to Abomeya was covered with
lush vegetation of the hills, interspersed with valleys with well
manicured fields of corn and groves of oil palms. However, for
the gloomy jungle of the valley stretched along a narrow coastal zone
Niger, where foreigners have been infiltrating for centuries
only Arab slave traders and Western adventurers
countries the darkest of ancient cults reigned here,
mysterious ritualsworship and fetishes and terrifying techniques
black witchcraft. sorcerers and fyaahari flourished here like nowhere else
in Africa.
Finally the car stopped in front of the European man's house
the type that was placed at my disposal. It contained
even such gifts of civilization as a bath with shower and a large
wooden bed with hand carvings. upon entering our house
met a bas-relief of a leopard carved on a wooden panel -
a reminder that the house belongs to a secret "union"
leopard", whose ritual ceremonies are among the most
sinister in Africa.
Before I had time to get used to the house, a messenger arrived, and I
went with him to the palace. we walked through several halls or
courtyards surrounded by adobe walls up to
twenty feet. the prince's throne room was almost no different from the large one
hallway, except for the fact that it adjoined the outer wall
large veranda. The hall was filled with bulky carved tables, chairs and
statues. on a large bench coveredleopard skin, sat
a plump, good-natured looking black man - that was my kind host
prince
He looked very picturesque. In the days of my youth, like me
they said he was a slender, cheerful man with exquisite
manners, popular in the most select circles
Paris. He retained his manners, but acquired monstrous proportions.
He was about five and a half feet tall and weighed at least 25o
lbs. on his head was a tall white hat with gold
sewing, and on his shoulder, like a gun, he held a scepter, decorated
small carvings, apparently with the coats of arms of his ancestors, which was supposed to
indicate the high rank of its owner.
at my appearance the prince rolled off the bench and, waddling
from foot to foot, hurried towards me, greeting me with
amazing warmth. He invited me to the table, but first
as we began to discuss the purpose of my visit, he beckoned to
himself one of his wives who stood at the door. she came closer
knelt down, kissed the left one in turn, then the right one
the ruler's foot and, having received the order, left.Later I was informed that Prince Axo, having assumed office
ruler of the canton of Umbeheim, had twenty wives, but since then he
brought their number to sixty.
In Dahomey, when it was still under the rule of its kings,
marriage, as an institution stipulated by law, did not exist. In
the whole kingdom was just eoo free people, and those
belonged exclusively to the royal family. because
the rest were slaves, then both they and their wives were property
king. He could give land and other people's wives to anyone close to him and
select them at your discretion.
Under the French, marriage customs in Dahomey changed somewhat.
the husband could now buy himself a wife with all her children, but he did not
had no legal rights to children from the present or from
previous marriages. The children belonged only to the mother. husband wasn't there
obliged to pay his wife's personal expenses or her taxes, but she
could raise children at her own discretion. having received
independence, women gained a fairly high status.
Prince's marital statusAxo had some special features. by
for dynastic reasons, he retained the rights to all his
children, but, like his subjects, was not obliged to support
neither them nor their wives. the French took care of them
government
we drank some fine French wine and I explained
the prince that brought me to his kingdom.
-You have a fabulous country, prince, and I really want better
recognize her.
I clearly liked my words, he broke into a smile, and his
black eyes sparkled in a thick, friendly face.
“Oh, we are famous for many things,” he replied. - Today you see
a modern city with all the benefits of civilization. but beyond it
there is still so much left of the past.I remembered with a shudder the bas-reliefs on the themes of the "annual
holiday" which he saw on the walls of his house and in the palace.
- You will undoubtedly also be interested in our dances, -
he said. - many things in Dahomey will be interesting and unusual for
you, I will try for you to see and do something
great pictures.
I noticed that first of all I would like to remove the famous
"Leopard Dance" the prince nodded.
“We have something else,” he said kindly. - There is a "dance"
rain" and "thunder dance". Our people also have
powerful fetishes, you will see them too.
I knew that fetish cults flourished in Dahomey. This is the word
is derived from the Portuguese word "feitico",
meaning "to do". It defines something made by hand
human and possessing great strength. worship of such objects
occurs not onlyamong primitive tribes, but also in more
complex societies that have reached a high level of cultural development.
It is believed that the greater the value of an item, from
which the fetish is made, the more power it has. therefore
parts are best for making fetishes
human body. For example, white eyes are especially valued
people, and in order to get them, fresh graves are often torn apart.
They are also considered extremely desirable in the manufacture
fetishes of pieces of the heart, gall bladder and human hair. They believe
that the parts of the body have all the properties of a person who has
they are taken and can transfer his power to a new owner.
Prince Axo himself was one of the ardent fans of fetishes and
Thanks to this, he enjoyed the support of the priests of local cults.
it is to her that he owes the fact that the French government elected
him to the role of ruler of the canton. when his predecessor fell ill,
Prince Axo tried by all means to gain favor
French administration, but many tribal elders
hierarchies feared his claims and opposed him
appointment by the ruler.
принц Axo обратился за помощью к жрецам, и вскоре правитель
кантона скончался при обстоятельствах столь странных, что
причина его смерти официально не была объявлена. ходили упорные
слухи, что "дух леопарда", священный символ династии короля
Дако, принял человеческий облик, проник воpalace and devoured
the insides of the leader while he was still alive. Whatever it is
actually happened to the king's internal organs, but on his
deep wounds similar to traces were visible on the chest and sides
claws they alone were enough to bring the sick king
to death.
The elders of the tribes turned to the fetish priests so that they
named a candidate for an heir who could be
recommend to the French, and the priests, with whom even earlier
Prince Axo consulted, turned to the fetishes of the deceased king
Dahomey, and they named him the successor of Prince Axo.
the French, who knew that Axo's proximity to the priests gave him
additional power over fellow tribesmen, agreed with the opinion
fetishes and appointed Axo as ruler. They invited him to 19e1
year to the World Exhibition in Paris. there he stayed for three years and
became famous for his carousing and success with women. He installed
close ties with senior French colonial officials
administration and returned home with financial and
administrative reforms. Hecarried them out with the support of the priests and
tribal leaders, thereby proving the foresight of the French
colonial policy.
I noticed strange markings on Axo's face. on his
parallel scars about half an inch long were visible on his cheeks,
clearly had ritual significance. I asked one of them
officials of the local French administration, what they mean.
These are “agassu marks,” or “leopard claws,” he answered.
The same official told me a strange story. Two children
fell prey to a leopard in a village near Abomey. on their
Their bodies bore clear traces of his claws. the villagers refused
take part in the hunt for the killer, as the head of the local
The healers said that the leopard had nothing to do with it. The killer was allegedly
a sorcerer who took the form of a leopard. He attacked children to
disgrace the Agassu sect. a detachment of French went hunting
police officers. They soon returned with a magnificent dead beast
and put it on public display in the center of the village. priests,
who warned their fellow tribesmen not to take
participationin the hunt, so as not to incur the wrath of the “leopard people”,
examined the prey and again stated that the leopard was not guilty of
death of children. then the administrator demanded that the priests
they presented him with the murderers.
Almost the entire village had gathered in the square. suspects
put on a platform and forced to drink in front of everyone
a medicine prepared by healers. It was supposed to "expose"
a criminal who, dressed in leopard skin, killed children.
those who in such cases manage to get rid of it by vomiting
from the brew are considered justified, while those who fail
die, thereby proving their guilt.
"Many of the older generation have already been through
similar tests,” the Frenchman continued his story. - we
repeatedly seen trying to stick their fingers down their throats,
induce vomiting. Others simply had a weak stomach. this time
two were unable to get rid of the brew and soon died.
the healers immediately declared them guilty of murdering children."
it is difficult to determine how poisonous something really is
a drink that healers gave to people. They themselves drink it with
accused. The narrator was firmly convinced that it was not
poison, but just a disgusting brew. but if this is so, then people
It is not the poison that kills, but either the fear that they were unable to get rid of
from drinking a poisonous liquid, or the cause of death is consciousness
your guilt.
I asked Prince Axo for permission to meet one of
priests of the famous voodoo cult. The terrifying rites of this gloomy
cults were brought to America by African slaves from Dahomey.
for many years this cult has flourished in Haiti, in British
West Indies and in black communities in the United States. This is probably the most
most dangerous of all known cults in Africa, and its priests lead
horror at blacks.
Once, when I was taking pictures in the square near the palace,
An old man came up to me and said that he was eager to be my guide.
I replied that when I need a guide, the prince will give me one.
will provide. but the old man is energeticshook his head and did not lag behind.
finally from his terrifying mixture of Portuguese with individual
in French and English words I understood that he acts according to
the prince's instructions.
“You will see the k'po monastery, but not the gri-gris,” he said,
pointing at my camera. I realized that he could take me to
meeting place of the "leopard people", but only I should not do
fetish pictures. I agreed and put him in my jeep. old man
directed me to the road leading from the city to the hills,
rising east of Abomey.
on the way I tried to get more detailed information from the old man
information about what he wants to show me. That I
agreed to follow him, there was no great danger, but
I was also not sure that Prince Axo really
approved this enterprise, but I didn’t want to spoil the good ones
relations with the ruler of Dahomey.
The old man's name was Ngambe, and I realized that he himself was
"a gris-gris man." He said from the very beginning that he was expecting
rewards for services, and I gave him a few francs.
Once upon a time in Dahomey shells were used for internal calculations
cowries, but many years ago they gave way to more
modern types of small change.
The old man smiled broadly and put the money in his pocket. that was
a tall, thin man with skinny arms, sunken cheeks,
sloping forehead and overhanging brow ridges, from under which
black eyes sparkled.
While talking about the spectacle ahead of me, he did not mention
voodoo rituals, but mentioned the “leopard”. indigenous people of Africa
avoided using these two words, but I understood what he meant
mind.
"monastery" or temple, located several miles from
Abomeya, we found empty. It was a small barn.
in front of him stood by a huge tree with a painted white trunk
small red cauldron. They lay in a semicircle near the templedry
palm nuts with strange carvings. you could see here
circles, triangles, squares and even a five-pointed star. I
counted sixteen such nuts, and later found out that they were
sixteen signs of Axo, deity of wisdom.
directly above the entrance hung a hemp rope with strings of
with palm leaves. it was the symbol of k'po - the leopard deity,
sacred animal of Dahomey. while we're half hidden
bushes, looked at the temple, were brought under
human hands. He was clearly insane. on a raised
An expression of ecstasy froze on his face towards the sky. thick lips were pursed
into a blissful smile, and although his eyes were open, he clearly did not
perceived the environment. while he was standing in front of the temple, he
held hands.
Soon a man came out of the temple. Hanging from his shaved head
a tuft of hair with feathers stuck into it. I realized that this was a priest.
He bent over the cauldron and threw some powder into it. then
several leaves from the one hanging on it also followed there.
bag belt.neither this powder nor the leaves even touched the lips of a person,
supported by two assistants, but it was clear how his body
is growing stronger before our eyes. the priest was still standing in front of him when from behind the bushes
a chain of local residents reached the clearing, and they began to
dance around them at a slow rhythm, now narrowing, now widening
circle
This went on for several minutes. then the man staggered, and
They took him by the hand to the temple. fetish priest and his two assistants
disappeared, and the dancers followed them. The ceremony was
short, and Ngambe explained to me that the man was already “ready.” I
understood his words in such a way that he was already prepared for what follows
rite. it seemed to me that he was under the influence
drug and was unable to perceive his surroundings.
u again I cannot say whether his condition was
the result of a drug or hypnosis. Ngambe explained to me,
that we witnessed the ritual of purification beforejoining
marriage, so that the children of this person cannot be possessed
evil spirit
The basis of the cult of voodoo, or towodan, as it was first called,
consists of belief in the power of fetish. Believers believe that healers
have power over fetishes, and the latter can completely
take possession of a person in whose body they will find refuge.
In the early years of Dahomey, the voodoo cult was known as aquadan,
cult of worship of the dead. the world of the dead was divided into two groups. B
one included the ancestors of the living person, and the other included everyone else
dead, including his enemies. according to local beliefs, during
several months after death a person retains his identity
and even your name. At this time, especially if the funeral
the ritual is delayed for some reason, the spirit of the deceased
poses a great threat to the living, because it can take over the spirit
a living person and acquire complete power over him or him
in spirit.
All ritual practicevoodoo that causes such fear in
inhabitants of the Western Hemisphere, is based on the belief that sorcerers,
dominating the souls of the dead, can use their power
to carry out his evil intentions.
Among the blacks of Dahomey, the cult of the dead took a unique form.
Ngambe is one of the fetish priests with whom I was with during my stay
in Abomey got quite close, told me that the rituals
Voodoo is based on the belief that the spirits of the dead are still
hover in the area of graves for a long time and can penetrate the body of another
person. then troubles cannot be avoided.
There are also spirits of another kind, which, according to
according to Ngambe stories, can freely leave the body of their owner
and harm people in a variety of ways. but with
Sorcerers cope with these spirits without much difficulty. everyone
a resident of Dahomey wears an amulet made by a fetish priest as a sign
personal protection from wandering spirits. over the doors of the huts in
In Dahomey villages you can often see pieces of chicken or meat
otherspets nailed as fetishes to the wall
at home to protect the owners from evil spirits.
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