Abomey
the former capital of Dahomey, Africa; a walled town, containing several royal palaces. It is mostly clay-built, and the walls are of mud; is of large area, much of which is under cultivation; carries on important trade with the interior in palm oil, ivory, and ABORIGINES gold. It has often been the scene of human sacrifices, especially at the great festivals. The town was captured by the French in 1892. Pop., formerly 60,000, now about 10,000. See DAHOMEY.
ABORIGINES. (1) An old tribe inhabiting Latium. (2) The earliest known inhabitants of any other land.
The aborigines of a country, as a subject of scientific investigation, have received great attention since the publication of Herbert Spencer's "Synthetic Philosophy." The greatest discussion has been occasioned by the theories of Morgan with reference to the aborigines of the United States.