Source: Thiébaut, 2020.
rifle, broke the rebels' will (Declaration of arrival of the Charlotte, Port-Louis, 10 April 1777. MNA, OC/29, No. 207).  
Irons were essential in preventing revolts and desertions: 'If Mr. de Savornin would have put in irons, as is the custom [...] the revolt, so many times rejected and so little believed, would not have taken place' (Delaleu and Boismartin, Instructions for Desgranges, Port-Louis, 31 January 1776. MNA, HB/24, s.f.). On the Phélypeaux, half of the enslaved people managed to break free before revolting (Journal of the Phélypeaux, 30 September 1756. AN, MAR, 4JJ/87, p. 32) and, on the Snelheid, a captive broke the irons with his hands, sparking a rebellion (Journal of the Snelheid, 15 November 1770. NA, VOC/4261). However, the use of irons cannot prevent all uprisings. In the case of the Bons Amis, the captives, still in chains, revolted unexpectedly at breakfast time, attacking the crew with logs. Lacking an immediate and effective defence, some sailors were killed, others were put ashore and the ship was lost (Declarations of Arrival of the Bons Amis, Port Louis, 29/12/1790. MNA, OC/28, No. 550).  
Insurrection would happen at the most opportune moment, following a certain sequence of events. On the Brak, the smith left his hammer next to the anvil while some of the crew were onshore and enslaved people were working  
on the deck. Stapoenje grabbed the tool and let out a cry, but Auke Hanse de Tonsbergen, the strongest of the sailors, was able to overcome his assailant despite receiving a blow to the head which left 'a hole a finger's width across'. This bought extra time in which to muster an effective defence (Journal of the Brak, 6 October 1741. NA, VOC/2585). On the Tamboer, at around midday, the absence of a rowboat and the fact that a number of men had removed their irons encouraged the captives to attack the lone guard. However, when the crew was alerted, they fired a barrage of shots from their rifles in order to quell the violence (Journal of the Tamboer, 23 September 1694. NA, VOC/1544).