Thread by @YorubaHistory

Chapter II [The Oyo Empire and Dahomey - the war of 1738]

The Dahomans may possibly exaggerate, but the Eyoes are certainly a very populous, warlike and powerful nation.

Source: Memoirs of the Reign of Bossa Ahádee, King of Dahomy, an Inland Country of Guiney by Robert Norris (1789)

docsouth.unc.edu/neh/norris/nor…

They invaded Dahomy in 1738 with an irresistible army, and laid the country waste with fire and sword to the gates of Abomey; here, the Foys had collected their whole strength, and waited the arrival of the enemy, who were advancing with an incredible multitude.

The Foys, though inferior in numbers, were not intimidated; they had seen service under Trudo, but never was their valour called forth upon a more trying occasion; ...

... their country and every thing that was dear to them, lay at stake; and they did all that could be expected in its defence.

The enemy attacked them in the morning; they acted wonders on that day; twice they repulsed the Eyoes, and had nearly given them a total defeat; but fresh supplies of the enemy continually pouring in,...

... to replace those who fell, the Foys, worn out with fatigue, were obliged to yield at last to superior numbers, and retreated, under cover of the night, into Abomey: having killed of the Eyoes, above twice the number of their own army.

Their situation now became truly calamitous, and no prospect was before them, but an utter extinction of the Dahomy name and nation.

Abomey is a very large town, surrounded with a deep moat, but has no wall nor breast-work to defend the besieged; nor are there any springs of water in it; consequently, it could not be long tenable. ...

Agaow, the king's general at Abomey, continued to defend the place, and amuse the enemy, until he learned that the king was safe, and Zassa evacuated: he then took the advantage of a dark night, conducted the remains of his army safe, passed the enemy, and fled;...

... leaving the town to the mercy of the Eyoes, who afterwards plundered and burnt it; as they also did Calmina and Zassa: they lived in the country at discretion, as long as they could procure subsistence; & in a few months, when that grew scarce, returned to their own country.

Had they, when they engaged at Abomey, detached a part of their numerous army, and attacked Zassa at the same time, the king and all his treasure must inevitably have fallen into their hands: and for this neglect, their general was disgraced upon his return.

The Eyoes continued for several years, to harrass Dahomy with an annual visit: the Foys never thought it prudent to engage them afterwards; but when apprized of their coming, ...

... used to evacuate their towns, divide into small parties, and shelter themselves as well as they could in their fastnesses and woods.

The king used all his efforts to obtain an accommodation, and offered them any reasonable compensation to refrain from hostilities; but it was difficult to satisfy their demands.

They claimed, in consequence of an old treaty, an annual tribute; the payment of which had been omitted in the prosperous days of Trudo.

These arrears were considerable; and fresh demands were also added, on account of the conquest of Whydah, which the Eyoes looked upon as an inexhaustible source of wealth to the king.

Their expectations, upon the whole, were so exorbitant, that Ahadee found it impracticable to satisfy them; and the Eyoes continued to ravage the country for several years, ...

... burning their towns, destroying their crops in harvest, killing many people, and carrying numbers away into captivity.

In the year 1747, however, the Eyoes consented to an accommodation, and compromised the matter for a tribute, which is paid them annually at Calmina, in the month of November.