August 7th, 1844.
[An extract from a characteristic letter of Rajah Brooke to Captain
Keppel will best introduce the following subject:]--
Sarawak, 26th May, 1844.
"There is plenty to do here, and the sooner you can come the better
for all of us, especially for your poor friends the Dyaks. Bring
with you as much force as you can to attack Sakarran. The case
stands thus: Sheriff Sahib, quite frightened at Sadong since last
year, enraged likewise at his loss of power and his incapability of
doing mischief, collected all the Sakarran Dyaks, and was joined by
many of the Dyaks of Sarebus, and some Balows. He likewise had a
good many Malays, and bullied every one in his vicinity. This force
met at the entrance of the Sadong Delta, and committed depredations.
They were not less than 200 Dyak boats, and some 15 or 20 armed Malay
prahus, besides others. Sheriff Sahib, with this force, has started
to-day for Sakarran, and I was not strong enough, with my eight
native boats, to attack him.
"It is his intention, on his arrival there, to fortify the place and
await our attack, and in the mean time to send out his Dyaks along
the coast and inland to such places as they dare venture to attack."
The 'Harlequin,' Captain Hastings, was in the neighbourhood of this
fleet, but her First-lieut., H. Chads, having been severely wounded,
and several of his men killed just before in a severe affair off
Acheen Head, her gallant Commander judged it imprudent to attack
them, with the few boats he possessed.
Since the 'Dido's' last visit to Sarawak, Her Majesty's ship
'Samarang,' Captain Sir Edward Belcher, had come there, and grounding
on a long shelf of rocks at the top of high water, and with the
ebb-tide rolled off, filling with the succeeding flood. She was
nearly a fortnight in this position, when, by the skill and almost
unparalleled exertions of her captain, officers, and crew, she was
hove off, and again made ready for sea.
Monday, 5th August, 1844.--The expedition left Sarawak. It consisted
of Her Majesty's steamer 'Phlegethon,' the boats of Her Majesty's
ship 'Dido,' boats belonging to Rajah Brooke, and a fleet of prahus,
under the Pangeran Budrudeen, the brother of the late Rajah.
Having entered the river Batang Lupar, which, for some way up, is
from three to four miles wide, they proceeded, on Wednesday the 7th,
towards Patusen, the place to be attacked, it being the stronghold of
Sheriff Sahib. The difficulty was now to keep back the native
allies, who were eager for heads and plunder.
Weighing at 11, they advanced with a strong tide in sight of the
fortifications of Patusen, which were not to be despised. The boats
of the 'Dido' and 'Phlegethon' having formed alongside the latter
vessel, were directed to pull inshore, and attack the forts in
succession. However, Mr. Wade, the gallant First-lieutenant of the
'Dido', who had the command, was the first to break the line, and to
pull directly in face of the largest fort. His example was followed
by the others, and dividing, each boat pulled for the fort which
appeared to the officer in command to be the one most likely to make
a good fight. The forts were the first to open fire on both steamer
and boats, which was quickly and smartly returned. From the
defective state of the detonating priming-tubes, the guns from the
'Phlegethon' would not go off; so the boats had all the glory to
themselves.
They never once checked in their advance; but the moment they touched
the shore, the crews rushed up, entering the forts at the embrasures,
while the pirates fled by the rear.
In this sharp and short affair, a fine young man, John Ellis, captain
of the main-top, in the 'Dido,' was killed--cut in two by a
cannon-shot, while in the act of ramming home a cartridge in the
bow-gun of the 'Jolly Bachelor.' This, and two others badly wounded,
were the only casualties.
The killed and wounded, on the part of the pirates, must have been
very severe. There were found, in and about the forts, 64 brass guns
of different sizes, besides many of iron, which were spiked and
thrown into the river.
The Sarawak followers, both Malays and Dyaks, behaved with the
greatest gallantry, dashing bravely in under the fire of the forts.
The town, which was very extensive, after being given up to them to
plunder, was set on fire, and made a magnificent blaze.
After the men had dined, another fort higher up the river was taken,
in which Sheriff Sahib resided, and where a large amount of his
plunder was captured.
During the day the habitations of 5,000 pirates had been burnt to the
ground, four strong forts destroyed, together with several hundred
boats; upwards of 60 brass cannon captured, and about a fourth that
number of iron spiked and thrown into the river, besides vast
quantities of other arms and ammunition; and the powerful Sheriff
Sahib, the great pirate patron of the last 20 years, ruined past
recovery, and driven to hide his diminished head in the jungle.
The 8th and 9th were passed in burning and destroying the rest of the
straggling town, and a variety of smaller boats.
On the 10th, the stronghold of Macota, another pirate chief, was
destroyed; but he had fled into the mountains.
Captain Keppel now divided his force, to attack, at the same time,
various forts, situated up several rivers running into the main
stream. One party under Lieut. Turnour, with Mr. Combes, in the
'Jolly Bachelor,' and a division of native boats, went up the Undop;
another, under Mr. D'Aeth, up the Lupar; while Mr. Wade, accompanied
by Mr. Brooke, ascended the Sakarran.
Lieut. Turnour, with Mr. Combes, made a very spirited attack on a
stockade situated on the summit of a steep hill, while Mr. Allen, the
master, performed a similar service on the opposite side of the river.
Having again collected his whole force, Captain Keppel proceeded up
the river Sakarran, 20 miles from the mouth of which was situated the
fortified town of Seriff Muller. When, as they knew by the noises
they heard that they were close to the town, they found a strong
barrier built across the river. A little in advance of it was a
farm-house, which, for the night, Captain Keppel occupied with a
party of 50 volunteers, consisting of Messrs. Steward, Williamson,
and Combes, a corporal and four marines, his gig's crew, and some
Malay and Dyak followers.
At daylight they were joined by Lieutenant Wade and Mr. Brooke; and
soon after 8 o'clock, the barrier being cut through, the town was
entered, plundered, and burnt.
Having ascertained that the pirates had retreated to a Dyak village,
situated on the top of a hill some 25 miles higher up the Undop, at
daylight on the 13th, Captain Keppel, with the lighter boats, went in
pursuit. On this day Lieut. Wade, jealous of the advanced position
of the lighter boats, obtained a place in Captain Keppel's gig.
Overcoming a variety of difficulties through rain and darkness, they
at last anchored for the night. On the 14th they pushed on, and
hearing of two landing-places leading to the village, proceeded in
search of one immediately under it. Several boats were destroyed in
their progress, and they had some sharp encounters with others on
which they unexpectedly came. Sheriff Muller was nearly taken; and
his war-prahu, full of plunder, was captured. Not finding the
looked-for landing-place, Captain Keppel and Lieut. Wade disembarked
at a clear green spot, to breakfast, and await the arrival of the
other boats. While the crew were busily employed in cooking, Captain
Keppel and Lieut. Wade fancied they heard the suppressed voices of
many people. Taking their guns, and creeping into the jungle, they
soon came in sight of a mass of boats concealed in a snug little
inlet, the entrance to which had escaped their notice. These were
filled with piratical Dyaks and Malays, and on shore, at various
points, were placed armed sentinels.
Not noticing Captain Keppel's caution, Mr. Wade dashed on, discharged
his gun, and called on their men to follow. The astonished enemy
instantly fled, and the British, nine in number only, headed by
Lieut. Wade, followed towards the Dyak village on the summit of the
hill. During the heat of the pursuit, although too anxious to
advance to await the arrival of his men, finding a poor, terrified
Malay girl who, by her imploring look, touched his heart, he stopped
to conceal her in a place of security. Then, he once again cheered
on his men in the pursuit. Entering a small encampment of the enemy,
Lieut. Wade's party drew up to re-form and load, and then, seeing the
arrival of the other boats at the landing-place, again rushed on in
pursuit. Before arriving at the foot of the steep ascent, on the
summit of which the Dyak village stood, they had to cross a small
open space of about 60 yards, exposed to the fire from the village,
as well as from the surrounding jungle. Before crossing the plain,
Captain Keppel again cautioned Mr. Wade to await the arrival of his
men, of whom he was far in advance. Immediately afterwards two rifle
shots struck him, and falling mortally wounded, at his captain's
feet, he died instantly. Captain Keppel remained with the body of
his lamented and gallant lieutenant till his men came up, and, giving
it in charge to some of them, the village was carried without further
check or accident. As it was by a shot from it poor Wade had been
killed, it was instantly destroyed. Throughout the expedition there
was a friendly rivalry between the crews of the 'Phlegethon' and
'Dido's' boats, and one of the officers of the former wounded, with a
pistol, the man who had killed poor Wade.
In the fort, among other plunder, were found some English
writing-desks, and on the brass plate of one was engraved the name of
"Mr. Willson." That evening, the village and piratical boats being
destroyed, the expedition returned down the river, and, with the deep
regret of all hands, by whom he was universally beloved, the body of
Lieut. Wade was committed to the deep.
Returning to the steamer on the 15th, Captain Keppel waited till the
17th, to rest his men. During the time their native friends were
much molested by the hostile Dyaks concealed in the jungle. On the
17th, the expedition started up the Sakarran. It consisted of the
'Dido's' pinnace, two cutters and gig, the 'Jolly Bachelor,' and the
'Phlegethon's' first and second cutters and gig, with a division of
light native boats under old Patingi Ali, with whom Mr. Stewart
embarked, while 30 native boats followed as a reserve.
We do not dwell on the difficulties of the navigation, and the heavy
rains they experienced, or the wild beauty of the scenery.
A war-boat was taken, and a party of Dyaks surprised on the 18th. On
the 19th, at nine o'clock, Captain Keppel having stopped to breakfast
with Mr. Brooke and Mr. Jenkins in the second cutter, he gave
permission to Patingi Ali to advance cautiously with his light
division, with positive orders to fall back on the appearance of an
enemy. After the pinnace and second gig had passed up a quarter of
an hour, the report of a few musket-shots told Captain Keppel that
the pirates had been fallen in with. Pushing on, the firing from the
British boats, and the war-yells of some thousand Dyaks, showed him
that an engagement had commenced. Dreadful was the scene of
confusion which met his view. About twenty boats were jammed
together, forming one confused mass--some bottom up; the bows or
sterns of others only visible, mixed up pell-mell with huge rafts,
amongst which were nearly all the advanced squadron. Headless
trunks, as well as heads without bodies, were lying about in all
directions; parties were engaged hand-to-hand, spearing and krissing
each other; others were striving to swim for their lives; entangled
in the common _mêlée_ were the British advanced boats; while on both
banks thousands of Dyaks were rushing down to join in the slaughter,
hurling their spears and stones on the boats below.
Fortunately one of the rafts which composed this floating bridge
caught in the stump of a tree and broke the line. It simultaneously
occurred to Capt. Keppel and Mr. Brooke, that, by dashing through in
the gig, they might draw off the attention of the enemy to
themselves. The effect was as they desired. Mr. Brooke steered
about mid-channel, while Captain Keppel, with his never-failing
rifles, having his coxswain to load, picked off the leaders from
among the savage mass, on which he kept up a rapid fire. Mr. Allen,
in the second gig, quickly coming up, opened upon them from a
Congreve rocket-tube such a destructive fire, as caused them to
retire behind the temporary barriers where they were concealed before
they attacked Patingi Ali; and from whence they continued to hurl
their spears and other missiles. Many employed the sumpitan (a tube
from which poisoned darts are shot); but though many of the British
were wounded, no fatal results ensued, owing to the expeditious
manner in which the wounded parts were excised by Mr. Beith, the
assistant-surgeon, afterwards any poison that might remain being
sucked out by one of the comrades of the wounded men.
The greatest loss was owing to the Patingi and the gallant Mr.
Stewart's imprudence. When leading, six large war-prahus, carrying
100 each, bore down on his boat, and out of a crew of 17, one only
escaped to tell the tale of his destruction. When last seen, Mr.
Stewart and the Patingi were in the act (their own boats sinking) of
boarding the enemy, and they were of course overpowered and killed.
On the side of the British 29 others lost their lives, and 56 were
wounded.
A few miles further up was the town and capital of Karangan, which
place, the pirates having fled from it, was completely destroyed
without opposition.
On the 22nd, the expedition returned to Patusen, where they were
reinforced by the boats of the 'Samarang,' under Sir Edward Belcher,
who having heard of their loss, had come up 120 miles in about 30
hours. Mr. D'Aeth, on coming alongside the 'Phlegethon,' was
capsized and nearly drowned, and shortly after Mr. Brooke, hearing a
cry of distress, shoved off in his Singapore Sampan, and picked up
three half-drowned Dyaks who alone escaped out of 11, their boat
being capsized by a bore.
On the 24th, the expedition again reached Sarawak.