A mission to Gelele, King of Dahome, Vol. 1 (of 2) by Sir Richard Francis Burton
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"A mission to Gelele, King of Dahome, Vol. 1 (of 2)" by Sir Richard Francis Burton is a travel narrative and ethnographic-historical account written in the mid-19th century. The work chronicles a British diplomatic mission to Dahomey, portraying the king, his female regiments, royal ceremonies, human sacrifices, and the coastal slave trade through first-hand observation. It blends statecraft with vivid reportage across West African locales, including Fernando Po, Lagos, Whydah, and the
Dahoman interior. The opening of the book frames Burton’s mission through Isabel Burton’s memorial preface and official Foreign Office letters directing him to promote lawful trade, curb the slave export, and discourage human sacrifices, while carrying specific royal presents. Before setting out inland, Burton sketches Fernando Po’s climate and the creation of a highland sanitarium at Santa Cecilia, then offers lively ethnographic notes on the Bubé people and his quiet life at Buena Vista. He departs aboard a naval steamer, gives a terse, unhealthy portrait of Lagos, and reaches Whydah, where he undergoes elaborate landings, toasts, and processions across the lagoon, complete with bands, salutes, and strenuous war dances. Formal receptions follow with local Dahoman officials—the Ka-wo, Ainadu, and others—who deliver the king’s messages and gifts, after which Burton begins a brief tour of Whydah’s layout, population, and history, noting its ruined state, origins of its name, and the legacy of Dahomean conquest and European forts. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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About this eBook
| Author | Burton, Richard Francis, Sir, 1821-1890 |
|---|---|
| Title | A mission to Gelele, King of Dahome, Vol. 1 (of 2) |
| Original Publication | London: Tylston and Edwards, 1864, copyright 1893. |
| Series Title | The memorial edition of the works of Captain Sir Richard F. Burton, K.C.M.G., F.R.G.S., &c., &c., &c., vol. III. |
| Credits | Galo Flordelis (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/Smithsonian Institution Libraries) |
| Language | English |
| LoC Class | DT: History: General and Eastern Hemisphere: Africa |
| Subject | Black race |
| Subject | Amazons |
| Subject | Benin -- Description and travel |
| Subject | Rites and ceremonies -- Benin |
| Category | Text |
| eBook-No. | 78570 |
| Release Date | Apr 29, 2026 |
| Copyright | Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads | 2362 downloads in the last 30 days. |
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