’It is wonderful what little courage the savages in general showed against the colonel and his little party; who absolutely beat them, although but a twenty-fifth of their number, and at their own tactics, i.e. bush fighting.

’A body of the mutineers now made towards the road to Maraccas, when the colonel and his three assistants contrived to get behind a silk-cotton tree, and recommenced firing on them.  The Africans hesitated and set forward, when the little party continued to fire on them; they set up a yell, and retreated down the hill.

’A part of the mutineers now concealed themselves in the bushes about San Josef barracks.  These men, after the affair was over, joined Colonel Bush, and with a mixture of cunning and effrontery smiled as though nothing had happened, and as though they were glad to see him; although, in general, they each had several shirts and pairs of trousers on preparatory for a start to Guinea, by way of Band de l’Est. {176a}

’In the meantime the San Josef militia were assembled, to the number of forty.  Major Giuseppi, and Captain and Adjutant Rousseau, of the second division of militia forces, took command of them.  They were in want of flints, powder, and balls—­to obtain these they were obliged to break open a merchant’s store; however, the adjutant so judiciously distributed his little force as to hinder the mutineers from entering the town, or obtaining access to the militia arsenal, wherein there was a quantity of arms.  Major Chadds and several old African soldiers joined the militia, and were by them supplied with arms.

’A good deal of skirmishing occurred between the militia and detached parties of the mutineers, which uniformly ended in the defeat of the latter.  At length Daaga appeared to the right of a party of six, at the entrance of the town; they were challenged by the militia, and the mutineers fired on them, but without effect.  Only two of the militia returned the fire, when all but Daaga fled.  He was deliberately reloading his piece, when a militiaman, named Edmond Luce, leaped on the gigantic chief, who would have easily beat him off, although the former was a strong young man of colour:  but Daaga would not let go his gun; and, in common with all the mutineers, he seemed to have no idea of the use of the bayonet.  Daaga was dragging the militiaman away, when Adjutant Rousseau came to his assistance, and placed a sword to Daaga’s breast.  Doctor Tardy and several others rushed on the tall Negro, who was soon, by the united efforts of several, thrown down and secured.  It was at this period that he repeatedly exclaimed, while he bit his own shoulder, “The first white man I catch after this I will eat him.” {176b}