affair was over.

'In the meantime a part of the officers' quarters was bravely
defended by two old African soldiers, Sergeant Merry and Corporal
Plague. The latter stood in the gallery, near the room in which
were the colours; he was ineffectually fired at by some hundreds,
yet he kept his post, shot two of the mutineers, and, it is said,
wounded a third. Such is the difference between a man acquainted
with the use of firearms and those who handle them as mops are held.

'In the meantime Colonel Bush got to a police-station above the
barracks, and got muskets and a few cartridges from a discharged
African soldier who was in the police establishment. Being joined
by the policemen, Corporal Craven {175} and Ensign Pogson, they
concealed themselves on an eminence above, and as the mutineers
(about 100 in number) approached, the fire of muskets opened on them
from the little ambush. The little party fired separately, loading
as fast as they discharged their pieces; they succeeded in making
the mutineers change their route.

'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 ent