were small,
and did little damage to the thick stone front of the fort. After an
engagement of four hours, during which the Ternate people lost a great
number of men, the peroquas, by the advice of Philip and Krantz, hauled
off, and returned to where the remainder of the fleet was stationed; and
another council of war was held. The force, which had surrounded the
fort, on the land side, was, however, not withdrawn, as it cut off any
supplies or assistance; and, at the same time, occasionally brought down
any of the Portuguese who might expose themselves--a point of no small
importance, as Philip well knew, with a garrison so small as that in the
fort.

That they could not take the fort by means of their cannon was evident;
on the sea side it was for them impregnable: their efforts must now be
directed to the land. Krantz, after the native chiefs had done
speaking, advised that they should wait until dark, and then proceed to
the attack in the following way. When the breeze set along shore, which
it would do in the evening, he proposed that the men should prepare
large bundles of dry palmetto and cocoa-nut leaves; that they should
carry their bundles and stack them against the palisades to windward,
and then set fire to them. They would thus burn down the palisades, and
gain an entrance into the outer fortification; after which they could
ascertain in what manner they should next proceed. This advice was too
judicious not to be followed. All the men who had not matchlocks were
set to collect fagots; a large quantity of dry wood was soon got
together, and before night they were ready for the second attack.

The white dresses of the Ternates were laid aside: with nothing on them
but their belts, and scimitars, and creeses, and blue under-drawers,
they silently crept up to the palisades, there deposited their fagots,
and then again returned, again to perform the same journey. As the
breastwork of fagots increased, so did they more boldly walk up, until
the pile was completed; they then, with a loud shout, fired it in
several places. The flames mounted, the cannon of the fort roared, and
many fell under the discharges of grape and hand-grenade. But stifled
by the smoke, which poured in volumes upon them, the people in the fort
were soon compelled to quit the ramparts to avoid suffocation. The
palisades were on fire, and the flames mounting in the air, swept over,
and began to attack the factory and houses. No r