drives no regular Trade in Slaves, but only sells such as he takes in his Wars. Being in this State of Perplexity (when he had not a sufficient Number of Soldiers to encounter the _Whidaws_ and _Popoes_ together, and, on the other hand, could not bear to see himself braved by such a cowardly Race as the _Whidaws_,) his Policy extricated him out of this Difficulty. He ordered a great number of Women to be armed like Soldiers, and appointed Officers to each Company, with Colours, Drums and Umbrellas, according to the _Negroe_ Fashion. Then ordering the Army to march, the Women Soldiers were placed in the Rear, to prevent Discovery. When they came in sight of the _Whidaw_ Army, the latter were much surprized to see such Numbers of _Dahomè_ Soldiers, as they supposed them all to be, marching against them: For they had much depended on the former Reports, that they were so far reduced, as not to be able (at least so soon) to have made Head against them. At this unexpected sight the _Whidaws_ were divided: Some were for retiring back to the Islands; but others who were commanded by Captain _Ossue_, with the _Popoes_, were for fighting. During this Dispute, the _Dahomè_ Army marched on boldly, and Captain _Ossue_, with the _Popoe_ General, as bravely advanced to meet them; and attacked their right Wing so briskly, that they drove them for some time before them. But the _Whidaws_ who were with the King, at that instant cowardly fled; tho’ his Majesty used his utmost endeavours and Intreaties to stop them, and at last wounded several with his Lance, to oblige them to second Captain _Ossue_’s People: But all in vain. This being observed by the left Wing of the _Dahomes_, they fell on the Rear of _Ossue_’s Soldiers, and soon obliged them and the _Popoes_, to fly in their turn; which the King of _Whidaw_ perceiving, and being so very unwieldy and fat, he had no other way to save his Life, but to fly into the dry Ditch of the _English_ Fort; where, by the help of two of his Sons, his Majesty got over the Wall, and so escaped the fury of his Enemies: But many of his People were killed, and others taken. Mr. _Testefole_, the Governor, was at a great loss how to act on this occasion. For he foresaw the _Dahomes_ would demand the King, and insist on his being delivered to them, as soon as they should know he was in the Fort. Which if he refused to do, he was sensible, they could oblige him in time to do it, by starving him. Moreover, he could not but sustain a great loss by the Interruption of Trade. So the Governor persuaded the King to leave the Fort that Night, and he happily escaped to his barren Islands again. However, the King of _Dahomè_ was afterwards fully informed of all this, and likewise that the Governor had been the principal occasion of the _Whidaws_ endeavouring to regain their Country: Which he highly resented.