Mr. Brooke having heard that the Sultan, with a bodyguard of 500 men,
had retreated to the village of Damaun, a strong port about 30 miles
from the capital, an expedition was formed to follow him. Sir Thomas
Cochrane gave the command of it to Captain Mundy, who was accompanied
by Mr. Brooke.
The force consisted of 160 marines, under Capt. Hawkins; 300 seamen
with eight lieutenants, and a proportionate number of junior
officers. Lieutenant Vansittart acted as Captain Mundy's
aid-de-camp, and Lieutenant Newland, First of the 'Spiteful,'
afterwards joined them with a few small-arm men from that vessel,
making altogether a body of nearly 500 men.
They were to proceed as far as possible in boats; three cutters-full
under Lieutenant Heath, being kept ahead to clear a passage up the
narrow stream. After seven hours of tracking, hauling almost in the
dark from the overhanging jungle, and with the heat most oppressive,
they effected a landing. They advanced under heavy rain and through
thick mud and swamps, but after destroying some newly-erected forts,
they were finally compelled to retrace their steps. The weather
however clearing, though continuing very sultry, the expedition again
advanced. On the way they fell in with a large house, in which were
found some shields, arms, and other property belonging to the Sultan,
which showed that he had lately occupied the spot. The natives now
observing that no injury was done to private property, joined them
and offered their services as guides.
On reaching a river, Captain Mundy called for volunteers to swim it,
to aid in forming a bridge. Immediately one of the carpenter's crew
of the 'Iris,' William Burchet, leapt in with his heavy axe, and
succeeded in crossing. Another large building was fallen in with,
containing a magazine of powder, cartridges, and a brass-swivel gun.
This house was found to belong to the Sultan, and that he had but a
few hours before quitted it. It was therefore set fire to and
destroyed.
The Sultan and his followers still evading pursuit among the almost
impenetrable jungle, the expedition returned to the city of Brunè,
some twenty of the officers and men suffering slightly from fever
brought on by exposure to the damp and heat they had encountered in
their march.
The inhabitants clearly understanding the object of the British, now
returned with confidence to the city, and they appeared fully to
appreciate the philanthropic motives which had saved it from
destruction.
CAPTURE OF PIRATE PRAHUS, AND DESTRUCTION OF PIRATE
STRONGHOLDS.
On the 31st, as the 'Phlegethon,' with other vessels in company, was
cruising off the Tampassuk river, a large prahu was seen pulling
towards it, and which Mr. Brooke recognised as a war-boat of the
Illanuns. The steamer soon got between her and the shore, and three
boats sent after her brought her to.
She was 60 feet long, fitted for 60 oars, with regular
boarding-nettings, and was armed with one long twelve-pounder and two
brass six-pound swivels. She had on board a coffin, in which was
found the body of a chief lately killed in action. A Spaniard on
board the 'Phlegethon,' and who had been rescued from slavery at
Brunè, recognized one of the crew as the man who had murdered the
master of the Spanish vessel to which he belonged, and had made him
prisoner. Soon afterwards, two Spaniards came forward from among the
crew and declared that they had been taken off the Manilla coast, and
had since been compelled to labour as slaves on board the pirate.
When the chief saw that his character was known, he and his people
leaped overboard and endeavoured to reach the shore, but they were
brought back and handcuffed.
The town of Pandassan had long been celebrated as a notorious haunt
of the Illanun pirates. The town of Tampassuk also had the same
character. The latter was destroyed, with all the prahus found near
it by Captain M'Quhae, of the 'Dædalus,' and a force of 250 seamen
and marines. The expedition against Pandassan was placed under
command of Captain Mundy.
The force consisted of 40 marines, and 150 men, exclusive of the
'Javanese' crew under Mr. Ross. Lieuts. Heath and Norcock commanded
the division of seamen, and Lieut. Alexander the marines. The
position of this pirate stronghold was most beautiful, and the soil
around it fertile in the extreme. As the British advanced, the enemy
retreated, skirmishing with the advanced guard, and they had several
men killed and wounded. The town and all the war-prahus were at once
destroyed. The pirates taken by the 'Phlegethon,' were transferred
to the 'Ringdove,' for passage to Manilla, where they were to be
given up to the Spanish Government for trial. The Spanish Captains
went with them to act as witnesses against them on their trial.
On August 3rd, in the afternoon, three large prahus were observed
from Her Majesty's ship 'Iris,' standing alongshore under a press of
sail. The signal was accordingly made for the 'Ringdove' and
'Royalist' to chase.
The 'Royalist' having got within range of the prahus, and her
Commander, Lieut. Reid, finding it impracticable to take her nearer
to the reef, lowered his gigs, and sent them away under the orders of
Mr. Quin (mate) and Mr. Ray (midshipman). The prahus having
separated, pulled at once for the shore, upon which Mr. Ray was
directed to push quickly towards the beach, and to endeavour to cut
off the largest one in her attempt to escape to the northward, whilst
Mr. Quin gave chase to the other two, which were retreating in an
opposite direction. One of the latter managed to get so close to the
surf before she was overtaken, that the crews jumped overboard, and
swam to the shore, when she was immediately captured and destroyed,
and Mr. Quin then observing that an engagement was going on between
the other prahu and the small gig, pulled in that direction to her
assistance. Mr. Ray, in the mean time, had come up rapidly with the
large prahu, which, on observing that only one small boat was
approaching, faced about, and opened a fire of musketry, and then
endeavoured to board the gig. This, however, was prevented by Mr.
Ray, who manœuvering judiciously, kept within long range of the
pirates, waiting for support, but at the same time maintained so good
a fire, that many of those desperate men were killed; others jumped
overboard, and swimming to the gig, clung with one hand to the
gunwale, and with invincible courage attacked the crews with their
knives. Mr. Quin came up as this sharp affair terminated; and when
the large prahu was taken possession of, ten men were found dead on
board; and out of her crew of forty, only a few managed to get on
shore. It was at this time dark; the boats were only a few hundred
yards from the beach, which was lined with hundreds of natives
watching the conflict. The prahu was afterwards destroyed, and the
gigs returned on board the 'Royalist,' the third vessel effecting her
escape under cover of night. Mr. Ray was complimented by the Admiral
for his judgment and mode of attack in this gallant affair, and
Lieut. Reid for the judicious management of his vessel. Mr. Quin has
since received his promotion.