SKIRMISHES WITH THE ENEMY — RETURN OF SEFU TO THE ATTACK

The Commandant instituted a very good system which we afterwards often felt the benefit of, namely, the supplying of every white man, at the State expense, with as many boy-servants as he chose to employ. These were generally savage little rascals, lately -freed slaves, and either the children of prisoners of war, or presents sent from native chiefs. Their business being to attend to the personal comfort of the whites, they rapidly acquired a certain amount of civilisation, and an absolute confidence in white men.

While still quite small, they acted as interpreters in the ordinary business with natives. As soon as they were old enough and sufficiently strong — often, with good feeding, a matter of only a few months —