IN THE YEARS 1838 AND 1839. 335 son, who witnessed this gratuitous act of cruelty, no longer master of his feelings, rushed with fury towards the soldier, struck him a blow with the sheba round his neck, and felled him to the ground. This was the signal for attack ; all the slaves, who bore a sheba, threw themselves upon the troops, and knocked them down, before they could take to their arms, or fix their bayonets ; thus fifty-six negroes took to flight during the confusion in the camp, and aided by the darkness of night, succeeded in effecting their escape. The natives, attached to this transport, remained quiet spectators of the fray, a proof of the interest they feel in these sanguinary hunts.

The body of the expedition had, in the meantime, continued its march and taken another hill by stomi, —but not without loss. This village was situated on a steep declivity, accessible only on the one side, and so well supplied with water that a blockade was out of the question. A storm was, therefore, commanded. On both sides, the men fought with desperate bravery. The storming party purchased dearly viith their blood every inch of ground they advanced. The negroes had barricaded every accessible spot ; each tree and every stone foi-med an ambush whence they rushed forth upon their enemies, who were scaling the heights under severe difliculties. The muskets were of no avail, for the soldiers were forced to creep upon their hands and feet and could not use their arms ; thus, many were