"Between the seventeenth and the nineteenth centuries Ouidah was the most important embarkation point for slaves in the region of West Africa known to outsiders as the 'Slave Coast'. This book deals with Ouidah's role in the operation of the slave trade and the problems presented by the transition from the slave trade to that of palm produce in the nineteenth century." "This study differs from earlier work on Dahomey in focusing on Ouidah as the coastal 'port' and centre of local provincial administration, rather than the inland capital of Abomey. It is based on meticulous analysis of a wide range of source material, including both contemporary European documents and local traditions."--BOOK JACKET