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 Bornéo, 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 Bornéo, 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.
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 Bornéo.
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 Bornéo, 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 Bornéo 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.