FIGHTING ON THE WEST COAST OF AFRICA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 6996, 19 April 1884, Page 2 (Supplement)

FIGHTING ON THE WEST COAST OF AFRICA.

Particclabs of the fight already briefly reported between natives of Maculla and the traders at a factory there, have juat come to hand. -The'affair aro6e, it is stated, through the agent of the Dutch factory at Maculla employing Krooboys to perform the labouring duties in connection with the establishment. The king of the place requested tho Dutch authorities to discharge the men, but the agent would not, saying he had a perfect right to employ whom he pleased, A few days afterwards tlie natives sought the intervention of the European traders to have the Krooboys withdrawn. The natives invited the whites' to the town to hold a meeting, but the latter refused to interfere. la less than three hours afterwards a force of from 700 to SCO natives arrived with, flintlock guns, spears, and other weapons, and marched in a body to attack the factory. The agent had collected hia Kroomon to the number of over

ICC, and armed them with Snider rilics in anticipation of an attack. He had also tour IG-pounder guns, which were brought into position. The white assistants were armed with Martini rifles. For soma time a briak (ire wa3 exchanged, many of the natives taking shelter behind a powder magazine, situated about 400 yards from the factory. At'one time it appeared probable that the natives would take the place by storm owing to their overwhelming numbers. Fearing this and the consequent massacres of the small defending pirty, the whites fire.'! into the magazine. A fearful explosion followed, Jailing all tho natives who were near, and destroying much property. It was said the magazine contained oter 25,0001b. cf powder at the time. The factory to which the magazine belonged was completely destroyed. Notwithstanding this disaster the natives continued to tight for several hours, but eventually withdrew, leaving about forty dead behind. So great vras the explosion that the report wa3 heard at Ambrizstte, seventeen miles distant. The battle was fought on Dac. 17, and on the 24th the Portuguese corvette Rainha de Portugal arrived, when a consultation took place between the commander and the traders. It was decided that the king of the place, together with four of his head men, should be detained as a security against any further disturbance, and that if the demand was not complied with force should be used. A reply to the request was to ba received on Jan. 4, and in the event of the king and the other hostages not being forthcoming, an expedition was to be sent up on tha 7tb. The expedition was to consist of fifty seamen of" tho Kain ha de Portugal and 200 Ivroomen. The party would take np four field-piece 3. Captain Bieta Capello was in command of the Rainha de Portugal