Captain Keppel's voyage in the Dido with Mr. Brooke
to Sarawak.--Chase of three piratical prahus.--Boat
expedition.--Action with the pirates, and capture of a
prahu.--Arrival at Sarawak.--Mr. Brooke's reception.--Captain
Keppel and his officers visit the Rajah.--The palace and the
audience.--Return royal visit to the Dido.--Mr. Brooke's residence
and household.--Dr. Treacher's adventure with one of the ladies
of Macota's harem.--Another boat affair with the pirates, and
death of their chief.
I have now followed Mr. Brooke's journal up to the time of our first
meeting at Singapore, and his accompanying me to Sarawak, and have
no remarks of my own to offer that could add in the slightest degree
to its interest; happily, none such are needed. I had not yet seen my
friend's journal when I arrived at Sarawak, nor was it until some time
after that I by degrees learned the progress of his infant government
from its commencement. It was with unfeigned pleasure I then found
that, while performing my duty in the suppression of piracy, I was,
at the same time, rendering the greatest assistance and support to
an individual in his praiseworthy, novel, and important position.
I had long felt a desire to explore the Island of Borneo, which the
few travelers who have called there describe as not only one of the
largest and most fertile in the world, but one of the most productive
in gold and diamonds, and other rich minerals and ores; one from which
the finest camphor known is brought into merchandise, and which is
undoubtedly capable of supplying every kind of valuable spice, and
articles of universal traffic and consumption. Yet, with all these
capabilities and inducements to tempt the energetic spirit of trade,
the internal condition of the country, and the dangers which beset
its coasts, have hitherto prevented the interior from being explored
by Europeans; and to prove how little we are acquainted even with its
shores, I actually sailed by the best Admiralty chart eighty miles
inland, and over the tops of mountains!
_May 4th, 1843._--Passed through the Tambelans, a beautiful group
of between 100 and 150 small islands. They are very extensive, and
but thinly inhabited. There is good anchorage near some of them; but
we had nothing less than twenty fathoms. They are placed so close
together that, after passing the first, we were to all appearance
completely land-locked in a magnificent and capacious harbor. The
following morning we anchored off the mouth of the Sambas river,
and sent the boats away to examine the creeks, islands, and rivers
along the coast for traces of pirates--which were discovered by the
remains of their fires on different parts, although no clew could be
obtained as to the direction in which they had gone. On the morning
of the 8th I again sent the pinnace and two cutters, Mr. Partridge,
Messrs. D'Aeth and Jenkins, with a week's provisions, the whole under
the command of Lieutenant Wilmot Horton, Mr. Brooke kindly offering
his assistance, which, from his knowledge of the Malay language, as
well as of the kind of vessels used by the pirates, was thankfully
accepted. I directed them to proceed to the Island of Marundum, and,
after visiting the South Natunas, to rejoin the Dido at Sarawak. In
the mean time I proceeded leisurely along the coast, anchoring where
convenient, and finding regular soundings all the way in from four
to ten fathoms: weather remarkably fine, and water smooth. On the
morning of the 9th, on rounding Tanjong Datu, we opened suddenly on a
suspicious-looking boat, which, on making us out, ran for a small, deep
bay formed by Cape Datu and the next point to the eastward. Standing
a little further on, we discovered a second large boat in the offing,
which likewise stood in shore, and afterward a third at the bottom
of the bay. From the description I had received, I easily made these
out to be Illanuns, an enterprising tribe of pirates, of whose daring
adventures I had heard much. They inhabit a small cluster of islands
off the N.E. coast of Borneo, and go out in large fleets every year to
look for prahus bound to Singapore or the Straits; and, after capturing
the vessels, reduce their crews to slavery. It is of a cruel nature;
for Mr. Brooke observes: "Nor is the slavery of that mild description
which is often attributed to the Asiatics; for these victims are bound
for months, and crowded in the bottom of the pirate vessels, where
they suffer all the miseries which could be inflicted on board an
African slaver."--Having fairly pinned these worthies into a corner,
and knowing that the only two small boats I had left on board would
stand no chance with them in pulling, to make sure of my prizes I
loaded the two foremost guns on each side, and, having no proper chart
of the coast, proceeded under easy sail, feeling my way into the bay
with the lead. When just within musket-range, I let go the anchor,
which was no sooner done than the three boats commenced making a
move. I thought at first they were coming alongside to sue for pardon
and peace; and my astonishment was great when I discovered that nothing
was further from their intention. One pulled away, close in shore,
to the eastward, and the other two to the westward. They were rowed
by about forty oars each, and appeared, from their swiftness, to be
flying, and that, too, from under my very nose; and what rendered it
still more ridiculous and disagreeable, owing to a strong ebb tide,
the ship remained exactly in a position that no gun could be brought
to bear on either side. The dingy and jolly-boat gave chase; but the
pirates had the start, and it was useless; for although a few men were
seen to drop from their oars in consequence of our fire of musketry
from the forecastle, still their pace never slackened; and when they
did come within the bearing of our guns, which they were obliged to
do for a minute or two while rounding the points that formed the bay,
though our thirty-two pound shot fell thickly about their heads,
frequently dashing the spray all over them, not a man flinched from
his oar. We could not help admiring their plan of escape, and the
gallant manner in which it was effected. I saw that it would be quite
unavailing to attempt to catch the boats that had pulled to windward;
but we lost no time in slipping our cable and making all sail in
chase of the one that had gone to leeward. But the "artful dodger"
was still too fast for us: we lost sight of him at dusk, close off
the mouth of a river, up which, however, I do not think he went; for
our two boats were there very shortly after him; and although they
searched all night and next morning, they could discover no traces
of the fugitive. Besides, these pirates have no friends among the
inhabitants of the province of Sarawak who would have screened them
from us; on the contrary, they would have put them to death if once
in their power. I certainly never made so sure of any thing in my
life as of capturing the three prahus after I had seen them safe at
the bottom of the little bay at Tanjong Datu: but "there is many a
slip between the cup and the lip." We returned the following day to
pick up the anchor and cable, and observed that it was a place well
adapted as a rendezvous for pirates. The bay is studded with rocks;
and, to my horror, I found that I had run her majesty's ship Dido
inside two that were a-wash at low water! A mountain stream of most
delicious water runs into the bay between two rocks, and the coast
abounds with oysters.
On the 13th the Dido anchored off Tanjong Poe, outside the bar at
the entrance of the river leading to Mr. Brooke's residence and seat
of government, at the town of Sarawak, situated about twenty-four
miles up. At half-tide on the following morning we crossed the bar,
carrying no less than three and a half fathoms, and entered the
beautiful river of Morotaba, which we ran up for the first fifteen
miles under all sail, with a fresh, leading breeze. The Dido was the
first square-rigged vessel that had ever entered those waters. We came
to at the junction river which unites the two principal entrances to
the Sarawak.
In the evening our boats returned on board from their expedition,
having reached Sarawak the day previous by the western entrance. On
leaving the Dido, on the morning of the 8th, they proceeded to the
Island of Marundum, a favorite rendezvous for pirates, where they
came on a fleet of the Illanum tribe, who, however, did not give them
an opportunity of closing; but, cutting their sampans adrift, made a
precipitate flight, opening fire as they ran out on the opposite side
of a small bay, in which they had been watering and refitting. This,
of course, led to a very exciting chase, with a running fire kept up
on both sides; but the distance was too great for the range of the
guns on either side; and the pirates, who, in addition to sailing
well, were propelled by from forty to sixty oars each, made their
escape. It was not until nearly hull-down that they (probably out
of bravado) ceased to fire their stern guns. As they went in the
direction of the Natunas, our boats steered for those islands, and
anchored under the south end of one of them. At daylight next morning,
although in three fathoms water, the pinnace, owing to the great rise
and fall of tide, grounded on a coral reef, and Lieutenant Horton
and Mr. Brooke proceeded in one of the cutters to reconnoiter. As
they neared the s.w. point, they were met by six prahus, beating
their tom-toms as they advanced, and making every demonstration of
fighting. Lieutenant Horton judiciously turned to rejoin the other
boats; and the pinnace having, fortunately, just then floated, he
formed his little squadron into line abreast, cleared for action,
and prepared to meet his formidable-looking antagonists. Mr. Brooke,
however, whose eye had been accustomed to the cut and rig of all
the boats in these seas, discovered that those advancing were not
Illanuns, and fancied there must be some mistake. The Natunas people
had been trading with Sarawak, and he was intimately acquainted with
a rich and powerful chief who resided on the island; he therefore
raised a white flag of truce on his spy-glass, and from the bow of
the pinnace hailed, waved, and made all the signs he could to warn
them of the danger into which they were running; but a discharge of
small arms was the only reply he got. They then detached their three
smallest vessels inshore, so as to command a cross-fire, and cut off
the retreat of our boats; and the rest advanced, yelling, beating
their tom-toms, and blazing away with all the confidence of victory,
their shot cutting through the rigging, and splashing in the water
all around. It was an anxious moment for the Dido's little party. Not
a word was spoken. The only gun of the pinnace was loaded with grape
and canister, and kept pointed on the largest prahu. The men waited,
with their muskets in hand, for permission to fire; but it was not
until within pistol-range that Lieutenant Horton poured into the
enemy his well-prepared dose. It instantly brought them to a halt;
yet they had the temerity to exchange shots for a few minutes longer,
when the largest cried for quarter, and the other five made for the
shore, chased by the two cutters, and keeping up a fire to the last.
The prize taken possession of by the pinnace proved to be a prahu
mounting three brass guns, with a crew of thirty-six men, belonging
to the Rajah of Rhio, and which had been dispatched by that chief to
collect tribute at and about the Natunas islands. They had on board ten
men killed, and eleven (four of them mortally) wounded. They affected
the greatest astonishment on discovering that our boats belonged
to a British man-of-war, and protested that it was all a mistake;
that the island had lately been plundered by the Illanun pirates,
for whom they had taken us; that the rising sun was in their eyes,
and that they could not make out the colors, &c. Lieutenant Horton,
thinking that their story might possibly have some foundation in truth,
and taking into consideration the severe lesson they had received,
directed Dr. Simpson, the assistant-surgeon, to dress their wounds;
and after admonishing them to be more circumspect in future, restored
them their boat, as well as the others which belonged to the island,
two of them being a trifle smaller, but of the same armament as
the one from Rhio, and the remaining three still smaller, carrying
twelve men each, armed with spears and muskets. These had been taken
possession of by the cutters after they had reached the shore and
landed their killed and wounded, who were borne away from the beach
so smartly by the natives that our people had not time to ascertain
the number hurt. The surgeon went ashore, and dressed the wounds of
several of them, an act of kindness and civilization far beyond their
comprehension. The natives, however, appeared to bear us no malice
for the injury we had inflicted on their countrymen, but loaded our
boats with fruit, goats, and every thing we required. It afforded some
amusement to find that among the slightly wounded was Mr. Brooke's
old, wealthy, and respectable friend already alluded to, who was not
a little ashamed at being recognized; but piracy is so inherent in a
Malay, that few can resist the temptation when a good opportunity for
plunder presents itself. The fact, which I afterward ascertained, was,
that they took our boats for some coming from a wreck with whatever
valuables they could collect; and their not having seen any thing of
the ship rather strengthened this conjecture; the excuse they made
for continuing the fight after they had discovered their mistake
being that they expected no quarter. [15]
_May 16th._--We proceeded up the river twelve miles further into the
interior of this interesting country, and with my friend Mr. Brooke
on board, approached Sarawak, his seat of government; in the reach
before you near which, and off the right bank of the river, is a long
and dangerous shelf of rocks. The deep channel which lies between the
bank and the rocks is not more than sixty or seventy feet wide, and
required some little care in passing; but, with the exception of the
flying jibboom, which got nipped off in the branch of a magnificent
overhanging tree, we anchored without accident in six fathoms water,
and greatly astonished the natives with a royal salute in honor of Muda
Hassim, the Rajah of Borneo. During the whole morning large boats, some
carrying as many as two hundred people, had been coming down the river
to hail Mr. Brooke's return; and one of the greatest gratifications I
had was in witnessing the undisguised delight, mingled with gratitude
and respect, with which each head man welcomed their newly-elected
ruler back to his adopted country. Although many of the Malay chiefs
had every reason to expect that in the Dido they saw the means by
which their misdeeds were to be punished, they showed their confidence
in Mr. Brooke by bringing their children with them--a sign peculiar
to the Malay. The scene was both novel and exciting; presenting to
us, just anchored in a large fresh-water river, and surrounded by a
densely-wooded jungle, the whole surface of the water covered with
canoes and boats dressed out with their various-colored silken flags,
filled with natives beating their tom-toms, and playing on their wild
and not unpleasant-sounding wind-instruments, with the occasional
discharge of firearms. To them it must have been equally striking
and extraordinary (as few of them had ever seen any larger vessel
than their own war-boats, or a European, until Mr. Brooke's arrival)
to witness the Dido anchored almost in the center of their town, her
mast-heads towering above the highest trees of their jungle; the loud
report of her heavy two-and-thirty pounder guns, and the running aloft,
to furl sails, of 150 seamen, in their clean white dresses, and with
the band playing, all which helped to make an impression that will
not easily be forgotten at Sarawak. I was anxious that Mr. Brooke
should land with all the honors due to so important a personage,
which he accordingly did, under a salute. The next business was my
visit of ceremony to the rajah, which was great fun, though conducted
in the most imposing manner. The band, and the marines, as a guard,
having landed, we (the officers) all assembled at Mr. Brooke's house,
where, having made ourselves as formidable as we could with swords
and cocked hats, we marched in procession to the royal residence,
his majesty having sent one of his brothers, who led me by the hand
into his presence. The palace was a long, low shed, built on piles,
to which we ascended by a ladder. The audience-chamber was hung with
red and yellow silk curtains, and round the back and one side of the
platform occupied by the rajah were ranged his ministers, warriors,
and men-at-arms, bearing spears, swords, shields, and other warlike
weapons. Opposite to them were drawn up our royal marines, the
contrast between the two body-guards being very amusing. Muda Hassim
is a wretched-looking, little man; still there was a courteous and
gentle manner about him that prepossessed us in his favor, and made
us feel that we were before an individual who had been accustomed to
command. We took our seats in a semicircle, on chairs provided for
the occasion, and smoked cigars and drank tea. His majesty chewed
his sirih-leaf and betel-nut, seated with one leg crossed under him,
and playing with his toes. Very little is ever said during these
audiences, so we sat staring at one another for half an hour with
mutual astonishment; and, after the usual compliments of wishing our
friendship might last as long as the moon, and my having offered him
the Dido and every thing else that did not belong to me in exchange
for his house, we took our leave.
_May 19th._--This was the day fixed for the rajah's visit to the Dido,
about which he appeared very anxious, although he had seldom been
known to go beyond his own threshold. For this ceremony all the boats,
guns, tom-toms, flags, and population were put in requisition; and the
procession to the ship was a very gorgeous and amusing spectacle. We
received him on board with a royal salute. He brought in his train a
whole tribe of natural brothers. His guards and followers were strange
enough, and far too numerous to be admitted on the Dido's deck,
so that as soon as a sufficient number had scrambled on board, the
sentry had orders to prevent any more from crowding in; but whether,
in so doing, the most important personages of the realm were kept out,
we did not ascertain. One fellow succeeded in obtaining a footing
with a large yellow silk canopy, a corner of which having run into
the eye of one of the midshipmen, the bearer missed his footing, and
down came the whole concern--as I was informed, by _accident_! The
party assembled in my cabin, and the remarks were few, nor did they
manifest great astonishment at any thing. In fact, a Malay never
allows himself to be taken by surprise. I believe, however, the rajah
did not think much of my veracity, when I informed him that this was
not the largest ship belonging to her Britannic majesty, and that she
had several mounting upward of 100 guns, though he admitted that he
had seen a grander sight than any of his ancestors. There was much
distress depicted in the royal countenance during his visit which I
afterward ascertained was owing to his having been informed that he
must not spit in my cabin. On leaving the ship, whether the cherry
brandy he had taken made him forget the directions he had received,
I do not know, but he squirted a mouthful of red betel-nut juice over
the white deck, and then had the temerity to hold out his hand to the
first lieutenant, who hastily applied to him the style (not royal)
of "a dirty beast," which not understanding, he smiled graciously,
taking it as some compliment peculiar to the English.
This farce over, I had now some time to look about me, and to refit my
ship in one of the prettiest spots on earth, and as unlike a dock-yard
as any thing could be.
Mr. Brooke's then residence, although equally rude in structure with
the abodes of the natives, was not without its English comforts of
sofas, chairs, and bedsteads. It was larger than any of the others,
but being, like them, built on piles, we had to mount a ladder to
get into it. It was situated on the same side of the river (the
right bank), next to, but rather in the rear of, the rajah's palace,
with a clear space of about 150 yards between the back and the edge
of the jungle. It was surrounded by palisades and a ditch, forming a
protection to sheep, goats, pigeons, cats, poultry, geese, monkeys,
dogs, ducks, and, occasionally, bullocks. The house consisted of but
one floor. A large room in the center, neatly ornamented with every
description of firearms, in admirable order and ready for use, served
as an audience and mess-room; and the various apartments round it
as bed-rooms, most of them comfortably furnished with matted floors,
easy chairs, pictures, and books, with much more taste and attention
to comfort than bachelors usually display. In one corner of the square
formed by the palisades were the kitchen and offices. The Europeans
with Mr. Brooke consisted of Mr. Douglas, formerly in the navy,
a clever young surgeon, and a gentleman of the name of Williamson,
who, being master of the native language, as well as active and
intelligent, made an excellent prime minister. Besides these were two
others, who came out in the yacht, one an old man-of-war's man, who
kept the arms in first-rate condition, and another worthy character,
who answered to the name of Charley, and took care of the accounts and
charge of every thing. These were attended by servants of different
nations. The cooking establishment was perfect, and the utmost harmony
prevailed. The great feeding-time was at sunset, when Mr. Brooke
took his seat at the head of the table, and all the establishment,
as in days of yore, seated themselves according to their respective
grades. This hospitable board was open to all the officers of the Dido;
and many a jovial evening we spent there. All Mr. Brooke's party were
characters--all had traveled; and never did a minute flag for want of
some entertaining anecdote, good story, or song, to pass away the time;
and it was while smoking our cigars in the evening that the natives,
as well as the Chinese who had become settlers, used to drop in,
and, after creeping up according to their custom, and touching the
hand of their European rajah, retire to the further end of the room,
and squat down upon their haunches, remain a couple of hours without
uttering a word, and then creep out again. I have seen sixty or
seventy of an evening come in and make this sort of salaam. All the
Malays were armed; and it is reckoned an insult for one of them to
appear before a rajah without his kris. I could not help remarking
the manly, independent bearing of the half-savage and nearly naked
mountain Dyak compared with the sneaking deportment of the Malay.
The following little adventure was told me during my stay at Sarawak,
by Dr. Treacher, who had lately joined Mr. Brooke, his former medical
attendant having returned to England. It appears that Dr. Treacher
received a message by a confidential slave that one of the ladies of
Macota's harem desired an interview, appointing a secluded spot in
the jungle as the rendezvous. The doctor, being aware of his own good
looks, fancied he had made a conquest, and, having got himself up as
showily as he could, was there at the appointed time. He described
the poor girl as both young and pretty, but with a dignified and
determined look, which at once convinced him that she was moved to
take so dangerous a step by some deeper feeling than that of a mere
fancy for his person. She complained of the ill treatment she had
received from Macota, and the miserable life she led, and avowed that
her firm resolve was to destroy (not herself, gentle creature! but)
him; for which purpose she wanted a small portion of arsenic. It was
a disappointment that he could not comply with her request; so they
parted--he full of pity and love for her, and she, in all probability,
full of contempt for a man who felt for her wrongs, but would not
aid in the very simple means she had proposed for redressing them.
While at Singapore, Mr. Whitehead had kindly offered to allow his
yacht, the Emily, a schooner of about fifty tons, with a native crew,
to bring our letters to Borneo, on the arrival at Singapore of the
mail from England. About the time she was expected, I thought it
advisable to send a boat to cruise in the vicinity of Cape Datu, in
case of her falling in with any of these piratical gentry. The Dido's
largest boat, the pinnace, being under repair, Mr. Brooke lent a large
boat which he had had built by the natives at Sarawak, and called the
Jolly Bachelor. Having fitted her with a brass six-pounder long gun,
with a volunteer crew of a mate, two midshipmen, six marines, and
twelve seamen, and a fortnight's provisions, I dispatched her under
the command of the second lieutenant, Mr. Hunt; Mr. Douglas, speaking
the Malayan language, likewise volunteered his services. One evening,
after they had been about six days absent, while we were at dinner,
young Douglas made his appearance, bearing in his arms the captured
colors of an Illanun pirate. It appears that the day after they had
got outside they observed three boats a long way in the offing, to
which they gave chase, but soon lost sight of them, owing to their
superior sailing. They, however, appeared a second and a third time,
after dark, but without the Jolly Bachelor being able to get near
them; and it now being late, and the crew both fatigued and hungry,
they pulled inshore, lighted a fire, cooked their provisions,
and then hauled the boat out to her grapnel, near some rocks, for
the night; lying down to rest with their arms by their sides, and
muskets round the mast, ready loaded. Having also placed sentries and
look-out men, and appointed an officer of the watch, they one and all
(sentries included, I suppose), owing to the fatigues of the day,
fell asleep! At about three o'clock the following morning, the moon
being just about to rise, Lieut. Hunt happening to be awake, observed
a savage brandishing a kris, and performing his war-dance on the bit
of deck, in an ecstasy of delight, thinking, in all probability, of
the ease with which he had got possession of a fine trading-boat, and
calculating the cargo of slaves he had to sell, but little dreaming of
the hornets' nest into which he had fallen. Lieut. Hunt's round face
meeting the light of the rising moon, without a turban surmounting it,
was the first notice the pirate had of his mistake. He immediately
plunged overboard; and before Lieut. Hunt had sufficiently recovered
his astonishment to know whether he was dreaming or not, or to rouse
his crew up, a discharge from three or four cannon within a few yards,
and the cutting through the rigging by the various missiles with which
the guns were loaded, soon convinced him there was no mistake. It
was as well the men were still lying down when this discharge took
place, as not one of them was hurt; but on jumping to their legs,
they found themselves closely pressed by two large war-prahus,
one on each bow. To return the fire, cut the cable, man the oars,
and back astern to gain room, was the work of a minute; but now came
the tug of war; it was a case of life and death. Our men fought as
British sailors ought to do; quarter was not expected on either side;
and the quick and deadly aim of the marines prevented the pirates from
reloading their guns. The Illanun prahus are built with strong bulwarks
or barricades, grape-shot proof, across the fore part of the boat,
through which ports are formed for working the guns; these bulwarks
had to be cut away by round shot from the Jolly Bachelor before the
musketry could bear effectually. This done, the grape and canister
told with fearful execution. In the mean time, the prahus had been
pressing forward to board, while the Jolly Bachelor backed astern; but,
as soon as this service was achieved, our men dropped their oars, and,
seizing their muskets, dashed on: the work was sharp, but short, and
the slaughter great. While one pirate boat was sinking, and an effort
made to secure her, the other effected her escape by rounding the point
of rocks, where a third and larger prahu, hitherto unseen, came to her
assistance, and putting fresh hands on board, and taking her in tow,
succeeded in getting off, although chased by the Jolly Bachelor, after
setting fire to the crippled prize, which blew up and sunk before the
conquerors got back to the scene of action. While there, a man swam off
to them from the shore, who proved to be one of the captured slaves,
and had made his escape by leaping overboard during the fight. The
three prahus were the same Illanun pirates we had so suddenly come
upon off Cape Datu in the Dido, and they belonged to the same fleet
that Lieut. Horton had chased off the Island of Marundum. The slave
prisoner had been seized, with a companion, in a small fishing canoe,
off Borneo Proper; his companion suffered in the general slaughter. The
sight that presented itself on our people boarding the captured boat
must indeed have been a frightful one. None of the pirates waited on
board for even the chance of receiving either quarter or mercy, but
all those capable of moving had thrown themselves into the water. In
addition to the killed, some lying across the thwarts, with their
oars in their hands, at the bottom of the prahu, in which there was
about three feet of blood and water, were seen protruding the mangled
remains of eighteen or twenty bodies. During my last expedition I
fell in with a slave belonging to a Malay chief, one of our allies,
who informed us that he likewise had been a prisoner, and pulled an
oar in one of the two prahus that attacked the Jolly Bachelor; that
none of the crew of the captured prahu reached the shore alive, with
the exception of the lad that swam off to our people; and that there
were so few who survived in the second prahu, that, having separated
from their consort during the night, the slaves, fifteen in number,
rose and put to death the remaining pirates, and then ran the vessel
into the first river they reached, which proved to be the Kaleka, where
they were seized, and became the property of the governing Datu; and
my informant was again sold to my companion, while on a visit to his
friend the Datu. Each of the attacking prahus had between fifty and
sixty men, including slaves, and the larger one between ninety and
a hundred. The result might have been very different to our gallant
but dosy Jolly Bachelors.
I have already mentioned the slaughter committed by the fire of the
pinnace, under Lieutenant Horton, into the largest Malay prahu; and
the account given of the scene which presented itself on the deck of
the defeated pirate, when taken possession of, affords a striking
proof of the character of these fierce rovers; resembling greatly
what we read of the Norsemen and Scandinavians of early ages. Among
the mortally wounded lay the young commander of the prahu, one of
the most noble forms of the human race; his countenance handsome
as the hero of Oriental romance, and his whole bearing wonderfully
impressive and touching. He was shot in front and through the lungs,
and his last moments were rapidly approaching. He endeavored to speak,
but the blood gushed from his mouth with the voice he vainly essayed
to utter in words. Again and again he tried, but again and again
the vital fluid drowned the dying effort. He looked as if he had
something of importance which he desired to communicate, and a shade
of disappointment and regret passed over his brow when he felt that
every essay was unavailing, and that his manly strength and daring
spirit were dissolving into the dark night of death. The pitying
conquerors raised him gently up, and he was seated in comparative
ease, for the welling out of the blood was less distressing; but the
end speedily came: he folded his arms heroically across his wounded
breast, fixed bis eyes upon the British seamen around, and, casting
one last glance at the ocean--the theater of his daring exploits,
on which he had so often fought and triumphed--expired without a sigh.
The spectators, though not unused to tragical and sanguinary sights,
were unanimous in speaking of the death of the pirate chief as the
most affecting spectacle they had ever witnessed. A sculptor might have
carved him as an Antinous in the mortal agonies of a Dying Gladiator.
The leaders of the piratical prahus are sometimes poetically addressed
by their followers as _Matari_, i. e., the sun; or _Bulan_, the moon;
and from his superiority in every respect, physical and intellectual,
the chief whose course was here so fatally closed seemed to be worthy
of either celestial name.