TRINIDAD I THEN AND NOW. 



221 



" It has been asserted that the recruits were 

 driven to mutiny by the treatment of their command- 

 ing officer. There is not the slightest truth in this 

 assertion ; they were treated with fully as much 

 kindness as their situation would admit of, and 

 Daaga was peculiarly a favourite of Colonel Bush 

 and the officers of the regiment, but, notwithstanding 

 this his temper often caused complaints to be brought 

 against him. M 



" On the night of the 17th June, 1837, the people 

 of St. Joseph were kept awake by the recruits, about 

 280 in number, singing their Paupas war-song 



" Dankaree au fey, 

 01 mi werri, au lay." 



Which being rendered into English means 



AlR, — " Come to plunder, come to slay," 

 Chorus—" We are ready to obey." 



About 3 o'clock in the morning the shouting be- 

 came very loud, and they continued their war-song 

 as given." 



' 6 Fire was now set to a quantity of huts for the 

 accommodation of the African soldiers, to the North- 

 wards of the Barracks, as well as to the house of a 

 poor black woman named Dalrymple. These burnt 

 briskly, throwing a dismal glare over the barracks 

 and picturesque town, and overpowering the light of 

 the full moon which illumined a cloudless sky. The 

 mutineers made a rush at the barrack room, and 

 seized on the muskets and fusees in the racks. Their 

 leaders, Daaga and a daring Yarraba named Ogston, 

 instantly loaded their pieces ; Daaga had a quantity 

 of ball cartridges, loose powder, and ounce pistol 



