porter's .tgurnal. 



37 



tives also began to think we were not so formidable as we 

 pretended : it became, therefore, absolutely necessary that 

 the fort should be taken at all hazards. Our people gave 

 three cheers, and rushed on through a showel* of spears 

 and stones, which the natives threw, from behind their 

 strong barrier, and it was not until our people entered the 

 fort, that they thought of retreating. Five were at this 

 instant shot dead ; and one in particular, fought until the 

 muzzle of the piece was presented to his forehead, when 

 the top of his head was entirely blown off. As soon as this 

 place was taken, all further resistance was at an end. The 

 friendly natives collected the dead, while many ran down 

 to a village situated in the valley, for the purpose of se- 

 curing the plunder, consisting of large quantities of drums, 

 mats, callabashes, and other household utensils, as well as 

 hogs, cocoa-nuts and other fruit. They also brought with 

 them large quantities of the plant with which they make 

 their finest cloth, which grows nearly as thick as the wrist, 

 and is highly esteemed by them. They came also laden 

 with plunder, which the enemy had not time to remove ; 

 for they could not be made to believe, that a handful of 

 men could drive them. 



It was shocking to see the manner they treated such as 

 were knocked over with a shot ; they rushed on them with 

 their war clubs, and soon despatched them : then each 

 seemed anxious to dip his spear into the" blood, which no- 

 thing could induce them to wipe off— the spear, from that 

 time, bore the name of the dead warrior, and its value, in 

 consequence of that trophy, was greatly enhanced. 



As soon as the party returned, ' I gave orders for the 

 liberation of Gattanewa, who hastened with speedy steps 

 to escape from the hill which separated us from the settle- 

 ment. His alarm had been great, and terror had taken 

 such fast hold on his mind, that he dared not look behind, 

 lest he should perceive some danger in pursuit of him. 

 He had heard from the natives of our having taken the 

 fort ; and as this was, in his estimation, a place of incom- 

 parable strength, he believed that nothing could resist our 

 progress. He supposed us stronger than we really were, 

 and dreaded an ally so powerful. I informed him, previous 

 to his departure, that I was now ready to listen to a mes- 

 senger from the Happahs ; but the poor old man's fright. 



