wish you could have seen them, Touhan [_Tuean_, Sir]. These prahus we see
here are nothing to them, such brass guns, such long pendants, such
creeses [Malay _kris_, dagger]! Allah-il-Allah! Our Datoos [_datuk_, a
chief] were indeed great men!
Sailing along the coast as high as Patani, we then crossed over to
Borneo, two Illanoon prahus acting as pilots, and reached a place
called Sambas [West Borneo]: there we fought the Chinese and Dutchmen,
who ill-treat our countrymen, and are trying to drive the Malays out of
that country. Gold-dust and slaves in large quantities were here taken,
most of the latter being our countrymen of Sumatra and Java, who are
captured and sold to the planters and miners of the Dutch settlements.
"Do you mean to say," I asked, "that the Dutch countenance such
traffic?"
"The Hollanders," replied Jadee, "have been the bane of the Malay race;
no one knows the amount of villainy, the bloody cruelty of their system
towards us. They drive us into our prahus to escape their taxes and
laws, and then declare us pirates and put us to death. There are natives
in our crew, Touhan, of Sumatra and Java, of Bianca [Banka] and Borneo;
ask them why they hate the Dutchmen; why they would kill a Dutchman. It
is because the Dutchman is a false man, not like the white man
[English]. The Hollander stabs in the dark; he is a liar!"
However, from Borneo we sailed to Biliton [island between Banka and
Borneo] and Bianca, and there waited for some large junks that were
expected. Our cruise had been so far successful, and we feasted
away--fighting cocks, smoking opium and eating white rice. At last our
scouts told us that a junk was in sight. She came, a lofty-sided one of
Fokien [Fuhkien]. We knew these Amoy men would fight like tiger-cats
for their sugar and silks; and as the breeze was fresh, we only kept her
in sight by keeping close inshore and following her. Not to frighten the
Chinamen, we did not hoist sail but made our slaves pull. "Oh!" said
Jadee, warming up with the recollection of the event--"oh! it was fine
to feel what brave fellows we then were!"
Towards night we made sail and closed upon the junk, and at daylight it
fell a stark calm, and we went at our prize like sharks. All our
fighting men put on their war-dresses; the Illanoons danced their
war-dance, and all our gongs sounded as we opened out to attack her on
different sides.
But those Amoy men are pigs! They burnt joss-paper; sounded their gongs,
and received us with such showers of stones, hot-water, long pikes, and
one or two well-directed shots that we hauled off to try the effect of
our guns, sorry though we were to do it, for it was sure to bring the
Dutchmen upon us. Bang! bang! we fired at them, and they at us; three
hours did we persevere, and whenever we tried to board, the Chinese beat
us back every time, for her side was as smooth and as high as a wall,
with galleries overhanging.
We had several men killed and hurt; a council was called; a certain
charm was performed by one of our holy men, a famous chief, and twenty
of our best men devoted themselves to effecting a landing on the junk's
deck, when our look-out prahus made the signal that the Dutchmen were
coming; and sure enough some Dutch gun-boats came sweeping round a
headland. In a moment we were round and pulling like demons for the
shores of Biliton, the gun-boats in chase of us, and the Chinese howling
with delight. The sea-breeze freshened and brought up a schooner-rigged
boat very fast. We had been at work twenty-four hours and were heartily
tired; our slaves could work no longer, so we prepared for the
Hollanders; they were afraid to close upon us and commenced firing at a
distance. This was just what we wanted; we had guns as well as they, and
by keeping up the fight until dark, we felt sure of escape. The
Dutchmen, however, knew this too, and kept closing gradually upon us;
and when they saw our prahus bailing out water and blood, they knew we
were suffering and cheered like devils. We were desperate; surrender to
Dutchmen we never would; we closed together for mutual support, and
determined at last, if all hope of escape ceased, to run our prahus
ashore, burn them, and lie hid in the jungle until a future day. But a
brave Datoo with his shattered prahus saved us; he proposed to let the
Dutchmen board her, creese [stab with a _kris_] all that did so, and
then trust to Allah for his escape.
It was done immediately; we all pulled a short distance away and left
the brave Datoo's prahu like a wreck abandoned. How the Dutchmen yelled
and fired into her! The slaves and cowards jumped out of the prahu, but
our braves kept quiet; at last, as we expected, one gun-boat dashed
alongside of their prize and boarded her in a crowd. Then was the time
to see how the Malay man could fight; the creese was worth twenty
swords, and the Dutchmen went down like sheep. We fired to cover our
countrymen, who, as soon as their work was done, jumped overboard and
swam to us; but the brave Datoo, with many more died as brave Malays
should do, running a-muck against a host of enemies.
The gun-boats were quite scared by this punishment, and we lost no time
in getting away as rapidly as possible; but the accursed schooner, by
keeping more in the offing, held the wind and preserved her position,
signaling all the while for the gun-boats to follow her. We did not want
to fight any more; it was evidently an unlucky day. On the opposite side
of the channel to that we were on, the coral reefs and shoals would
prevent the Hollanders following us: it was determined at all risks to
get there in spite of the schooner. With the first of the land-wind in
the evening we set sail before it and steered across for Bianca. The
schooner placed herself in our way like a clever sailor, so as to turn
us back; but we were determined to push on, take her fire, and run all
risks.
It was a sight to see us meeting one another; but we were desperate: we
had killed plenty of Dutchmen; it was their turn now. I was in the
second prahu, and well it was so, for when the headmost one got close
to the schooner, the Dutchman fired all his guns into her, and knocked
her at once into a wrecked condition. We gave one cheer, fired our guns
and then pushed on for our lives. "Ah! sir, it was a dark night indeed
for us. Three prahus in all were sunk and the whole force dispersed."
To add to our misfortunes a strong gale sprang up. We were obliged to
carry canvas; our prahu leaked from shot-holes; the sea continually
broke into her; we dared not run into the coral reefs on such a night,
and bore up for the Straits of Malacca. The wounded writhed and shrieked
in their agony, and we had to pump, we fighting men, and bale like
_black fellows_ [Caffre or negro slaves]! By two in the morning we were
all worn out. I felt indifferent whether I was drowned or not, and many
threw down their buckets and sat down to die. The wind increased and, at
last, as if to put us out of our misery, just such a squall as this came
down upon us. I saw it was folly contending against our fate, and
followed the general example. "God is great!" we exclaimed, but the
Rajah of Johore came and reproved us. "Work until daylight," he said,
"and I will ensure your safety." We pointed at the black storm which was
approaching. "Is that what you fear?" he replied, and going below he
produced just such a wooden spoon and did what you have seen me do, and
I tell you, my captain, as I would if the "Company Sahib" stood before
me, that the storm was nothing, and that we had a dead calm one hour
afterwards and were saved. God is great and Mahomet is his prophet!--but
there is no charm like the Johore one for killing the wind!
FOOTNOTES:
[16] From _The Indian Antiquary_, Vol. 49.
THE TERRIBLE LADRONES[17]
RICHARD GLASSPOOLE
On the 17th of September, 1809, the Honorable Company's ship _Marquis of
Ely_ anchored under the Island of _Sam Chow_, in China, about twelve
English miles from Macao, where I was ordered to proceed in one of our
cutters to procure a pilot, and also to land the purser with the packet.
I left the ship at 5 P.M. with seven men under my command, well armed.
It blew a fresh gale from the N. E. We arrived at Macao at 9 P.M., where
I delivered the packet to Mr. Roberts, and sent the men with the boat's
sails to sleep under the Company's Factory, and left the boat in charge
of one of the Compradore's men; during the night the gale increased. At
half-past three in the morning I went to the beach, and found the boat
on shore half-filled with water, in consequence of the man having left
her. I called the people, and baled her out; found she was considerably
damaged, and very leaky. At half-past 5 A.M., the ebb-tide making, we
left Macao with vegetables for the ship.
One of the Compradore's men who spoke English went with us for the
purpose of piloting the ship to Lintin, as the Mandarines, in
consequence of a late disturbance at Macao, would not grant permission
for regular pilots. I had every reason to expect the ship in the roads,
as she was preparing to get under weigh when we left her; but on our
rounding Cabaretta-Point, we saw her five or six miles to leeward, under
weigh, standing on the starboard tack: it was then blowing fresh at N.
E. Bore up, and stood towards her; when about a cable's length to
windward of her, she tacked; we hauled our wind and stood after her. A
hard squall then coming on, with a strong tide and heavy swell against
us, we drifted fast to leeward, and the weather being hazy, we soon lost
sight of the ship. Struck our masts, and endeavored to pull; finding our
efforts useless, set a reefed foresail and mizzen, and stood towards a
country-ship at anchor under the land to leeward of Cabaretta-Point.
When within a quarter of a mile of her she weighed and made sail,
leaving us in a very critical situation, having no anchor, and drifting
bodily on the rocks to leeward. Struck the masts: after four or five
hours hard pulling, succeeded in clearing them.
At this time not a ship in sight; the weather clearing up, we saw a ship
to leeward, hull down, shipped our masts, and made sail towards her; she
proved to be the Honourable Company's ship _Glatton_. We made signals to
her with our handkerchiefs at the mast-head, she unfortunately took no
notice of them, but tacked and stood from us. Our situation was now
truly distressing, night closing fast, with a threatening appearance,
blowing fresh, with hard rain and a heavy sea; our boat very leaky,
without a compass, anchor or provisions, and drifting fast on a
lee-shore, surrounded with dangerous rocks, and inhabited by the most
barbarous pirates. I close-reefed my sails, and kept tack and tack 'till
daylight, when we were happy to find we had drifted very little to
leeward of our situation in the evening. The night was very dark, with
constant hard squalls and heavy rain.
Tuesday, the 19th, no ships in sight. About ten o'clock in the morning
it fell calm, with very hard rain and a heavy swell;--struck our masts
and pulled, not being able to see the land, steered by the swell. When
the weather broke up, found we had drifted several miles to leeward.
During the calm a fresh breeze springing up, made sail, and endeavored
to reach the weather-shore, and anchor with six muskets we had lashed
together for that purpose. Finding the boat made no way against the
swell and tide, bore up for a bay to leeward, and anchored about one
A.M. close under the land in five or six fathoms water, blowing fresh,
with hard rain.
Wednesday, the 20th, at daylight, supposing the flood-tide making,
weighed and stood over to the weather-land, but found we were drifting
fast to leeward. About ten o'clock perceived two Chinese boats steering
for us. Bore up, and stood towards them, and made signals to induce
them to come within hail; on nearing them, they bore up, and passed to
leeward of the islands. The Chinese we had in the boat advised me to
follow them, and he would take us to Macao by the leeward passage. I
expressed my fears of being taken by the Ladrones. Our ammunition being
wet, and the muskets rendered useless, we had nothing to defend
ourselves with but cutlasses, and in too distressed a situation to make
much resistance with them, having been constantly wet, and eaten nothing
but a few green oranges for three days.
As our present situation was a hopeless one, and the man assured me
there was no fear of encountering any Ladrones, I complied with his
request, and stood in to leeward of the islands, where we found the
water much smoother, and apparently a direct passage to Macao. We
continued pulling and sailing all day. At six o'clock in the evening I
discovered three large boats at anchor in a bay to leeward. On seeing us
they weighed and made sail towards us. The Chinese said they were
Ladrones, and that if they captured us they would most certainly put us
all to death! Finding they gained fast on us, struck the masts, and
pulled head to wind for five or six hours. The tide turning against us,
anchored close under the land to avoid being seen. Soon after we saw the
boats pass us to leeward.
Thursday, the 21st, at daylight, the flood making, weighed and pulled
along shore in great spirits, expecting to be at Macao in two or three
hours, as by the Chinese account it was not above six or seven miles
distant. After pulling a mile or two perceived several people on shore,
standing close to the beach; they were armed with pikes and lances. I
ordered the interpreter to hail them, and ask the most direct passage to
Macao. They said if we came on shore they would inform us; not liking
their hostile appearance, I did not think proper to comply with the
request. Saw a large fleet of boats at anchor close under the opposite
shore. Our interpreter said they were fishing-boats, and that by going
there we should not only get provisions, but a pilot also to take us to
Macao.
I bore up, and on nearing them perceived there were some large vessels,
very full of men, and mounted with several guns. I hesitated to approach
nearer; but the Chinese assuring me they were Mandarine junks[18] and
salt-boats, we stood close to one of them, and asked the way to Macao.
They gave no answer, but made some signs to us to go in shore. We passed
on, and a large rowboat pulled after us; she soon came alongside, when
about twenty savage-looking villains, who were stowed at the bottom of
the boat, leaped on board us. They were armed with a short sword in each
hand, one of which they laid on our necks, and the other pointed to our
breasts, keeping their eyes fixed on their officer, waiting his signal
to cut or desist. Seeing we were incapable of making any resistance, he
sheathed his sword, and the others immediately followed his example.
They then dragged us into their boat, and carried us on board one of
their junks, with the most savage demonstrations of joy, and as we
supposed, to torture and put us to a cruel death. When on board the
junk, they searched all our pockets, took the handkerchiefs from our
necks, and brought heavy chains to chain us to the guns.
At this time a boat came, and took me, with one of my men and the
interpreter, on board the chief's vessel. I was then taken before the
chief. He was seated on deck, in a large chair, dressed in purple silk,
with a black turban on. He appeared to be about thirty years of age, a
stout commanding-looking man. He took me by the coat, and drew me close
to him; then questioned the interpreter very strictly, asking who we
were, and what was our business in that part of the country. I told him
to say we were Englishmen in distress, having been four days at sea
without provisions. This he would not credit, but said we were bad men,
and that he would put us all to death; and then ordered some men to put
the interpreter to the torture until he confessed the truth.
Upon this occasion, a Ladrone, who had been once to England and spoke a
few words of English, came to the chief, and told him we were really
Englishmen, and that we had plenty of money, adding, that the buttons on
my coat were gold. The chief then ordered us some coarse brown rice, of
which we made a tolerable meal, having eat nothing for nearly four days,
except a few green oranges. During our repast, a number of Ladrones
crowded round us, examining our clothes and hair, and giving us every
possible annoyance. Several of them brought swords, and laid them on our
necks, making signs that they would soon take us on shore, and cut us in
pieces, which I am sorry to say was the fate of some hundreds during my
captivity.
I was now summoned before the chief, who had been conversing with the
interpreter; he said I must write to my captain, and tell him, if he did
not send a hundred thousand dollars for our ransom, in ten days he would
put us all to death. In vain did I assure him it was useless writing
unless he would agree to take a much smaller sum; saying we were all
poor men, and the most we could possibly raise would not exceed two
thousand dollars. Finding that he was much exasperated at my
expostulations, I embraced the offer of writing to inform my commander
of our unfortunate situation, though there appeared not the least
probability of relieving us. They said the letter should be conveyed to
Macao in a fishing-boat, which would bring an answer in the morning. A
small boat accordingly came alongside, and took the letter.
About six o'clock in the evening they gave us some rice and a little
salt fish, which we ate, and they made signs for us to lay down on the
deck to sleep; but such numbers of Ladrones were constantly coming from
different vessels to see us, and examine our clothes and hair, they
would not allow us a moment's quiet. They were particularly anxious for
the buttons of my coat, which were new, and as they supposed gold. I
took it off, and laid it on the deck to avoid being disturbed by them;
it was taken away in the night, and I saw it on the next day stripped of
its buttons.
About nine o'clock a boat came and hailed the chief's vessel; he
immediately hoisted his mainsail, and the fleet weighed apparently in
great confusion. They worked to windward all night and part of the next
day, and anchored about one o'clock in a bay under the island of Lantow,
where the head admiral of Ladrones was lying at anchor, with about two
hundred vessels and a Portuguese brig they had captured a few days
before, and murdered the captain and part of the crew.
Saturday, the 23d, early in the morning, a fishing-boat came to the
fleet to inquire if they had captured an European boat; being answered
in the affirmative, they came to the vessel I was in. One of them spoke
a few words of English, and told me he had a Ladrone-pass, and was sent
by Captain Kay in search of us; I was rather surprised to find he had no
letter. He appeared to be well acquainted with the chief, and remained
in his cabin smoking opium, and playing cards all the day.[19]
In the evening I was summoned with the interpreter before the chief. He
questioned us in a much milder tone, saying, he now believed we were
Englishmen, a people he wished to be friendly with; and that if our
captain would lend him seventy thousand dollars 'till he returned from
his cruise up the river, he would repay him, and send us all to Macao. I
assured him it was useless writing on those terms, and unless our ransom
was speedily settled, the English fleet would sail, and render our
enlargement altogether ineffectual. He remained determined, and said if
it were not sent, he would keep us, and make us fight, or put us to
death. I accordingly wrote, and gave my letter to the man belonging to
the boat before mentioned. He said he could not return with an answer in
less than five days.
The chief now gave me the letter I wrote when first taken. I have never
been able to ascertain his reasons for detaining it, but suppose he dare
not negotiate for our ransom without orders from the head admiral, who I
understood was sorry at our being captured. He said the English ships
would join the mandarines and attack them.[20] He told the chief that
captured us, to dispose of us as he pleased.
Monday, the 24th, it blew a strong gale, with constant hard rain; we
suffered much from the cold and wet, being obliged to remain on deck
with no covering but an old mat, which was frequently taken from us in
the night by the Ladrones who were on watch. During the night the
Portuguese who were left in the brig murdered the Ladrones that were on
board of her, cut the cables, and fortunately escaped through the
darkness of the night. I have since been informed they ran her on shore
near Macao.
Tuesday, the 25th, at daylight in the morning, the fleet, amounting to
about five hundred sail of different sizes, weighed, to proceed on their
intended cruise up the rivers, to levy contributions on the towns and
villages. It is impossible to describe what were my feelings at this
critical time, having received no answers to my letters, and the fleet
under-way to sail,--hundreds of miles up a country never visited by
Europeans, there to remain probably for many months, which would render
all opportunities of negotiating for our enlargement totally
ineffectual; as the only method of communication is by boats, that have
a pass from the Ladrones, and they dare not venture above twenty miles
from Macao, being obliged to come and go in the night, to avoid the
Mandarines; and if these boats should be detected in having any
intercourse with the Ladrones, they are immediately put to death, and
all their relations, though they had not joined in the crime,[21] share
in the punishment, in order that not a single person of their families
should be left to imitate their crimes or revenge their death. This
severity renders communication both dangerous and expensive; no boat
would venture out for less than a hundred Spanish dollars.
Wednesday, the 26th, at daylight, we passed in sight of our ships at
anchor under the island of Chun Po. The chief then called me, pointed to
the ships, and told the interpreter to tell us to look at them, for we
should never see them again. About noon we entered a river to the
westward of the Bogue, three or four miles from the entrance. We passed
a large town situated on the side of a beautiful hill, which is
tributary to the Ladrones; the inhabitants saluted them with songs as
they passed.
The fleet now divided into two squadrons (the red and the black)[22] and
sailed up different branches of the river. At midnight the division we
were in anchored close to an immense hill, on the top of which a number
of fires were burning, which at daylight I perceived proceeded from a
Chinese camp. At the back of the hill was a most beautiful town,
surrounded by water, and embellished with groves of orange trees. The
chop-house (custom-house)[23] and a few cottages were immediately
plundered, and burned down; most of the inhabitants, however, escaped to
the camp.
The Ladrones now prepared to attack the town with a formidable force,
collected in rowboats from the different vessels. They sent a messenger
to the town, demanding a tribute of ten thousand dollars annually,
saying, if these terms were not complied with, they would land, destroy
the town, and murder all the inhabitants; which they would certainly
have done, had the town laid in a more advantageous situation for their
purpose; but being placed out of the reach of their shot, they allowed
them to come to terms. The inhabitants agreed to pay six thousand
dollars, which they were to collect by the time of our return down the
river. This finesse had the desired effect, for during our absence they
mounted a few guns on a hill, which commanded the passage, and gave us
in lieu of the dollars a warm salute on our return.