Raga is most distinguished. He is dreaded by people of all
denominations, and universally known as the "prince of pirates." For
more than seventeen years this man has carried on a system of piracy to
an extent never before known; his expeditions and enterprises would fill
a large volume. They have invariably been marked with singular cunning
and intelligence, barbarity, and reckless inattention to the shedding of
human blood. He has emissaries every where, and has intelligence of the
best description. It was about the year 1813 Raga commenced operations
on a large scale. In that year he cut off three English vessels, killing
the captains with his own hands. So extensive were his depredations
about that time that a proclamation was issued from Batavia, declaring
the east coast of Borneo to be under strict blockade. Two British sloops
of war scoured the coast. One of which, the Elk, Capt. Reynolds, was
attacked during the night by Raga's own proa, who unfortunately was not
on board at the time. This proa which Raga personally commanded, and the
loss of which he frequently laments, carried eight guns and was full of
his best men.
[Illustration: _A Piratical Proa in Full Chase._]
An European vessel was faintly descried about three o'clock one foggy
morning; the rain fell in torrents; the time and weather were favorable
circumstances for a surprise, and the commander determined to
distinguish himself in the absence of the Rajah Raga, gave directions to
close, fire the guns and board. He was the more confident of success, as
the European vessel was observed to keep away out of the proper course
on approaching her. On getting within about an hundred fathoms of the
Elk they fired their broadside, gave a loud shout, and with their long
oars pulled towards their prey. The sound of a drum beating to quarters
no sooner struck the ear of the astonished Malays than they endeavored
to get away: it was too late; the ports were opened, and a broadside,
accompanied with three British cheers, gave sure indications of their
fate. The captain hailed the Elk, and would fain persuade him it was a
mistake. It was indeed a mistake, and one not to be rectified by the
Malayan explanation. The proa was sunk by repeated broadsides, and the
commanding officer refused to pick up any of the people, who, with the
exception of five were drowned; these, after floating four days on some
spars, were picked up by a Pergottan proa, and told the story to Raga,
who swore anew destruction to every European he should henceforth take.
This desperado has for upwards of seventeen years been the terror of the
Straits of Macassar, during which period he has committed the most
extensive and dreadful excesses sparing no one. Few respectable families
along the coast of Borneo and Celebes but have to complain of the loss
of a proa, or of some number of their race; he is not more universally
dreaded than detested; it is well known that he has cut off and murdered
the crews of more than forty European vessels, which have either been
wrecked on the coasts, or entrusted themselves in native ports. It is
his boast that twenty of the commanders have fallen by his hands. The
western coast of Celebes, for about 250 miles, is absolutely lined with
proas belonging principally to three considerable rajahs, who act in
conjunction with Raga and other pirates. Their proas may be seen in
clusters of from 50, 80, and 100 (at Sediano I counted 147 laying on the
sand at high water mark in parallel rows,) and kept in a horizontal
position by poles, completely ready for the sea. Immediately behind them
are the campongs, in which are the crews; here likewise are kept the
sails, gunpowder, &c. necessary for their equipment. On the very summits
of the mountains, which in many parts rise abruptly from the sea, may be
distinguished innumerable huts; here reside people who are constantly on
the lookout. A vessel within ten miles of the shore will not probably
perceive a single proa, yet in less than two hours, if the tide be high,
she may be surrounded by some hundreds. Should the water be low they
will push off during the night. Signals are made from mountain to
mountain along the coast with the utmost rapidity; during the day time
by flags attached to long bamboos; at night, by fires. Each chief sends
forth his proas, the crews of which, in hazardous cases, are infuriated
with opium, when they will most assuredly take the vessel if she be not
better provided than most merchantmen.
Mr. Dalton, who went to the Pergottan river in 1830 says, "whilst I
remained here, there were 71 proas of considerable sizes, 39 of which
were professed pirates. They were anchored off the point of a small
promontory, on which the rajah has an establishment and bazaar. The
largest of these proas belonged to Raga, who received by the fleet of
proas, in which I came, his regular supplies of arms and ammunition from
Singapore. Here nestle the principal pirates, and Raga holds his head
quarters; his grand depot was a few miles farther up. Rajah Agi Bota
himself generally resides some distance up a small river which runs
eastward of the point; near his habitation stands the principal bazaar,
which would be a great curiosity for an European to visit if he could
only manage to return, which very few have. The Raga gave me a pressing
invitation to spend a couple of days at his country house, but all the
Bugis' nacodahs strongly dissuaded me from such an attempt. I soon
discovered the cause of their apprehension; they were jealous of Agi
Bota, well knowing he would plunder me, and considered every article
taken by him was so much lost to the Sultan of Coti, who naturally would
expect the people to reserve me for his own particular plucking. When
the fact was known of an European having arrived in the Pergottan river,
this amiable prince and friend of Europeans, impatient to seize his
prey, came immediately to the point from his country house, and sending
for the nacodah of the proa, ordered him to land me and all my goods
instantly. An invitation now came for me to go on shore and amuse myself
with shooting, and look at some rare birds of beautiful plumage which
the rajah would give me if I would accept of them; but knowing what were
his intentions, and being well aware that I should be supported by all
the Bugis' proas from Coti, I feigned sickness, and requested that the
birds might be sent on board. Upon this Agi Bota, who could no longer
restrain himself, sent off two boats of armed men, who robbed me of many
articles, and would certainly have forced me on shore, or murdered me in
the proa had not a signal been made to the Bugis' nacodahs, who
immediately came with their people, and with spears and krisses, drove
the rajah's people overboard. The nacodahs, nine in number, now went on
shore, when a scene of contention took place showing clearly the
character of this chief. The Bugis from Coti explained, that with regard
to me it was necessary to be particularly circumspect, as I was not only
well known at Singapore, but the authorities in that settlement knew
that I was on board the Sultan's proa, and they themselves were
responsible for my safety. To this circumstance alone I owe my life on
several occasions, as in the event of any thing happening to me, every
nacodah was apprehensive of his proa being seized on his return to
Singapore; I was therefore more peculiarly cared for by this class of
men, and they are powerful. The rajah answered the nacodahs by saying, I
might be disposed of as many others had been, and no further notice
taken of the circumstance; he himself would write to Singapore that I
had been taken by an alligator, or bitten by a snake whilst out
shooting; and as for what property I might have in the proa he would
divide it with the Sultan of Coti. The Bugis, however, refused to listen
to any terms, knowing the Sultan of Coti would call him to an account
for the property, and the authorities of Singapore for my life. Our
proa, with others, therefore dropped about four miles down the river,
where we took in fresh water. Here we remained six days, every argument
being in vain to entice me on shore. At length the Bugis' nacodahs came
to the determination to sail without passes, which brought the rajah to
terms. The proas returned to the point, and I was given to understand I
might go on shore in safety. I did so, and was introduced to the rajah
whom I found under a shed, with about 150 of his people; they were busy
gambling, and had the appearance of what they really are, a ferocious
set of banditti. Agi Bota is a good looking man, about forty years of
age, of no education whatever; he divides his time between gaming, opium
and cockfighting; that is in the interval of his more serious and
profitable employment, piracy and rapine. He asked me to produce what
money I had about me; on seeing only ten rupees, he remarked that it was
not worth while to win so small a sum, but that if I would fight cocks
with him he would lend me as much money as I wanted, and added it was
beneath his dignity to fight under fifty reals a battle. On my saying it
was contrary to an Englishman's religion to bet wagers, he dismissed me;
immediately after the two rajahs produced their cocks and commenced
fighting for one rupee a side. I was now obliged to give the old
Baudarre five rupees to take some care of me, as whilst walking about,
the people not only thrust their hands into my pockets, but pulled the
buttons from my clothes. Whilst sauntering behind the rajah's campong I
caught sight of an European woman, who on perceiving herself observed,
instantly ran into one of the houses, no doubt dreading the consequences
of being recognized. There are now in the house of Agi Bota two European
women; up the country there are others, besides several men. The Bugis,
inimical to the rajah, made no secret of the fact; I had heard of it on
board the proa, and some person in the bazaar confirmed the statement.
On my arrival, strict orders had been given to the inhabitants to put
all European articles out of sight. One of my servants going into the
bazaar, brought me such accounts as induced me to visit it. In one house
were the following articles: four Bibles, one in English, one in Dutch,
and two in the Portuguese languages; many articles of wearing apparel,
such as jackets and trowsers, with the buttons altered to suit the
natives; pieces of shirts tagged to other parts of dress; several broken
instruments, such as quadrants, spy glasses (two,) binnacles, with
pieces of ship's sails, bolts and hoops; a considerable variety of
gunner's and carpenter's tools, stores, &c. In another shop were two
pelisses of faded lilac color; these were of modern cut and fashionably
made. On enquiring how they became possessed of these articles, I was
told they were some wrecks of European vessels on which no people were
found, whilst others made no scruple of averring that they were formerly
the property of people who had died in the country. All the goods in the
bazaar belonged to the rajah, and were sold on his account; large
quantities were said to be in his house up the river; but on all hands
it was admitted Raga and his followers had by far the largest part of
what was taken. A Mandoor, or head of one of the campongs, showed me
some women's stockings, several of which were marked with the letters
S.W.; also two chemises, one with the letters S.W.; two flannel
petticoats, a miniature portrait frame (the picture was in the rajah's
house,) with many articles of dress of both sexes. In consequence of the
strict orders given on the subject I could see no more; indeed there
were both difficulty and danger attending these inquiries. I
particularly wanted to obtain the miniature picture, and offered the
Mandoor fifty rupees if he could procure it; he laughed at me, and
pointing significantly to his kris, drew one hand across my throat, and
then across his own, giving me to understand such would be the result to
us both on such an application to the rajah. It is the universal custom
of the pirates, on this coast, to sell the people for slaves immediately
on their arrival, the rajah taking for himself a few of the most useful,
and receiving a percentage upon the purchase money of the remainder,
with a moiety of the vessel and every article on board. European vessels
are taken up the river, where they are immediately broken up. The
situation of European prisoners is indeed dreadful in a climate like
this, where even the labor of natives is intolerable; they are compelled
to bear all the drudgery, and allowed a bare sufficiency of rice and
salt to eat."
It is utterly impossible for Europeans who have seen these pirates at
such places as Singapore and Batavia, to form any conception of their
true character. There they are under immediate control, and every part
of their behaviour is a tissue of falsehood and deception. They
constantly carry about with them a smooth tongue, cringing demeanor, a
complying disposition, which always asserts, and never contradicts; a
countenance which appears to anticipate the very wish of the Europeans,
and which so generally imposes upon his understanding, that he at once
concludes them to be the best and gentlest of human beings; but let the
European meet them in any of their own campongs, and a very different
character they will appear. The character and treacherous proceeding
narrated above, and the manner of cutting off vessels and butchering
their crews, apply equally to all the pirates of the East India Islands,
by which many hundred European and American vessels have been surprised
and their crews butchered.
On the 7th of February, 1831, the ship Friendship, Capt. Endicott, of
Salem (Mass.,) was captured by the Malays while lying at Quallah Battoo,
on the coast of Sumatra. In the forenoon of the fatal day, Capt.
Endicott, Mr. Barry, second mate, and four of the crew, it seems went on
shore as usual, for the purpose of weighing pepper, expecting to obtain
that day two boat loads, which had been promised them by the Malays.
After the first boat was loaded, they observed that she delayed some
time in passing down the river, and her crew being composed of Malays,
was supposed by the officers to be stealing pepper from her, and
secreting it in the bushes. In consequence of this conjecture, two men
were sent off to watch them, who on approaching the boat, saw five or
six Malays leap from the jungle, and hurry on board of her. The former,
however, supposed them to be the boat's crew, as they had seen an equal
number quit her previous to their own approach. In this they were
mistaken, as will subsequently appear. At this time a brig hove in
sight, and was seen standing towards Soo Soo, another pepper port,
distant about five miles. Capt. Endicott, on going to the beach to
ascertain whether the brig had hoisted any colors, discovered that the
boat with pepper had approached within a few yards of the Friendship,
manned with an unusual number of natives.
It appears that when the pepper boats came alongside of the Friendship,
as but few of the hands could work at a time, numbers of the Malays came
on board, and on being questioned by Mr. Knight, the first officer, who
was in the gangway, taking an account of the pepper, as to their
business, their reply was, that they had come to see the vessel. Mr.
Knight ordered them into their boat again, and some of them obeyed, but
only to return immediately to assist in the work of death, which was now
commenced by attacking Mr. Knight and the rest of the crew on board. The
crew of the vessel being so scattered, it was impossible to concentrate
their force so as to make a successful resistance. Some fell on the
forecastle, one in the gangway, and Mr. Knight fell upon the quarter
deck, severely wounded by a stab in the back while in the act of
snatching from the bulwarks a boarding pike with which to defend
himself.
The two men who were taking the pepper on a stage, having vainly
attempted to get on board to the assistance of their comrades, were
compelled to leap into the sea. One of them, Charles Converse, of Salem,
being severely wounded, succeeded in swimming to the bobstays, to which
he clung until taken on board by the natives, and from some cause he was
not afterwards molested. His companion, John Davis, being unable to
swim, drifted with the tide near the _boat tackle_, or _davit falls_,
the blocks being overhauled down near the water; one of these he laid
hold of, which the Malays perceiving, dropped their boat astern and
despatched him! the cook sprang into a canoe along side, and in
attempting to push off she was capsized; and being unable to swim, he
got on the bottom, and paddled ashore with his hands, where he was made
prisoner. Gregory, an Italian, sought shelter in the foretop-gallant
cross-trees, where he was fired at several times by the Malays with the
muskets of the Friendship, which were always kept loaded and ready for
use while on the coast.
Three of the crew leaped into the sea, and swam to a point of land near
a mile distant, to the northward of the town; and, unperceived by the
Malays on shore, pursued their course to the northward towards Cape
Felix, intending to go to the port of Annalaboo, about forty-five miles
distant. Having walked all night, they found themselves, on the
following morning, near the promontory, and still twenty-five miles
distant from Annalaboo.
When Mr. Endicott, Mr. Barry, and the four seamen arrived at the beach,
they saw the crew jumping into the sea; the truth now, with all its
horrors, flashed upon his mind, that the vessel was attacked, and in an
instant they jumped on board the boat and pushed off; at the same time a
friendly rajah named Po Adam, sprang into the boat; he was the
proprietor of a port and considerable property at a place called Pulo
Kio, but three miles distant from the mouth of the river Quallah Battoo.
More business had been done by the rajah during the eight years past
than by any other on the pepper coast; he had uniformly professed
himself friendly to the Americans, and he has generally received the
character of their being honest. Speaking a little English as he sprang
into the boat, he exclaimed, "Captain, you got trouble; Malay kill you,
he kill Po Adam too!" Crowds of Malays assembled on both sides of the
river, brandishing their weapons in a menacing manner, while a ferry
boat, manned with eight or ten of the natives, armed with spears and
krisses, pushed off to prevent the officers' regaining their ship. The
latter exhibited no fear, and flourished the cutlass of Po Adam in a
menacing manner from the bows of the boat; it so intimidated the Malays
that they fled to the shore, leaving a free passage to the ship; but as
they got near her they found that the Malays had got entire possession
of her; some of them were promenading the deck, others were making
signals of success to the people on shore, while, with the exception of
one man aloft, not an individual of the crew could be seen. Three Malay
boats, with about fifty men, now issued from the river in the direction
of the ship, while the captain and his men, concluding that their only
hope of recovering their vessel was to obtain assistance from some other
ships, directed their course towards Muchie, where they knew that
several American vessels were lying at anchor. Three American captains,
upon hearing the misfortunes of their countrymen, weighed anchor
immediately for Quallah Battoo, determined, if possible, to recover the
ship. By four o'clock on the same day they gained an anchorage off that
place; the Malays, in the meantime, had removed on shore every moveable
article belonging to the ship, including specie, besides several cases
of opium, amounting in all to upwards of thirty thousand dollars. This
was done on the night of the 9th, and on the morning of the 10th, they
contrived to heave in the chain cable, and get the anchor up to the
bows; and the ship was drifting finely towards the beach, when the
cable, not being stopped abaft the bitts, began suddenly to run out with
great velocity; but a bight having by accident been thrown forward of
the windlass, a riding turn was the consequence, and the anchor, in its
descent, was suddenly checked about fifteen fathoms from the hawse. A
squall soon after coming on, the vessel drifted obliquely towards the
shore, and grounded upon a coral reef near half a mile to the southward
of the town. The next day, having obtained a convenient anchorage, a
message was sent by a friendly Malay who came on board at Soo Soo,
demanding the restoration of the ship. The rajah replied that he would
not give her up, but that they were welcome to take her if they could; a
fire was now opened upon the Friendship by the vessels, her decks were
crowded with Malays, who promptly returned the fire, as did also the
forts on shore. This mode of warfare appeared undecisive, and it was
determined to decide the contest by a close action. A number of boats
being manned and armed with about thirty officers and men, a movement
was made to carry the ship by boarding. The Malays did not wait the
approach of this determined attack, but all deserted the vessel to her
lawful owners, when she was taken possession of and warped out into deep
water. The appearance of the ship, at the time she was boarded, beggars
all description; every part of her bore ample testimony of the scene of
violence and destruction with which she had been visited. The objects of
the voyage were abandoned, and the Friendship returned to the United
States. The public were unanimous in calling for a redress of the
unparalleled outrage on the lives and property of citizens of the United
States. The government immediately adopted measures to punish so
outrageous an act of piracy by despatching the frigate Potomac,
Commodore Downs, Commander. The Potomac sailed from New York the 24th of
August, 1831, after touching at Rio Janeiro and the Cape of Good Hope.
She anchored off Quallah Battoo in February 1832, disguised as a Danish
ship, and came to in merchantman style, a few men being sent aloft,
dressed in red and blue flannel shirts, and one sail being clewed up and
furled at a time. A reconnoitering party were sent on shore disguised as
pepper dealers, but they returned without being able to ascertain the
situations of the forts. The ship now presented a busy scene; it was
determined to commence an attack upon the town the next morning, and
every necessary preparation was accordingly made, muskets were cleaned,
cartridge-boxes buckled on, cutlasses examined and put in order, &c.
At twelve o'clock at night, all hands were called, those assigned to
take part in the expedition were mustered, when Lieut. Shubrick, the
commander of the detachment, gave them special orders; when they entered
the boats and proceeded to the shore, where they effected a landing near
the dawn of day, amid a heavy surf, about a mile and a half to the north
of the town, undiscovered by the enemy, and without any serious accident
having befallen them, though several of the party were thoroughly
drenched by the beating of the surf, and some of their ammunition was
injured.
The troops then formed and took up their line of march against the
enemy, over a beach of deep and heavy sand. They had not proceeded far
before they were discovered by a native at a distance, who ran at full
speed to give the alarm. A rapid march soon brought them up with the
first fort, when a division of men, under the command of Lieut. Hoff,
was detached from the main body, and ordered to surround it. The first
fort was found difficult of access, in consequence of a deep hedge of
thorn-bushes and brambles with which it was environed. The assault was
commenced by the pioneers, with their crows and axes, breaking down the
gates and forcing a passage. This was attended with some difficulty, and
gave the enemy time for preparation. They raised their warwhoop, and
resisted most manfully, fighting with spears, sabres, and muskets. They
had also a few brass pieces in the fort, but they managed them with so
little skill as to produce no effect, for the balls uniformly whizzed
over the heads of our men. The resistance of the Malays was in vain, the
fort was stormed, and soon carried; not, however, till almost every
individual in it was slain. Po Mahomet, a chief of much distinction, and
who was one of the principal persons concerned in the outrage on the
Friendship was here slain; the mother of Chadoolah, another rajah, was
also slain here; another woman fell at this port, but her rank was not
ascertained; she fought with the spirit of a desperado. A seaman had
just scaled one of the ramparts, when he was severely wounded by a blow
received from a weapon in her hands, but her life paid the forfeit of
her daring, for she was immediately transfixed by a bayonet in the hands
of the person whom she had so severely injured. His head was wounded by
a javelin, his thumb nearly cut off by a sabre, and a ball was shot
through his hat.