BORNEO. EXPEDITION AGAINST THE PIRATES. [From the Perth Inquirer.]

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VI, Issue 488, 6 April 1850, Page 4

BORNEO. EXPEDITION AGAINST THE PIRATES. [From the Perth Inquirer.]

We have great pleasure in laying before our readers an account of the expedition against the pirates on the N. W. coast of Borneo, This account has been written by a gentleman long resident in th ; s colony, and who was an eye-witness of the scenes lie so graphically describes : — Arrangements were made that H. M. S. Meander, 44. guns, Albatross, 12 guns, and Royalist, 10 guns, together with H. E. I. C. war steamers Nemesis and Semiramis, should rendezvous at Sarawak, and furnish boats and a European force of 300 men. The Meander and Semiramis however did not arrive, and the effective force of the Royalist and Nemesis was so reduced from sickness, that we could only muster 7 boats, manned by 108 men, including officers. All arrangements being completed, it was considered better to proceed, even with this reduced force, than, by waiting longer, to ran the risk of being pyertaken by the rainy season ; and accordingly we started on the 24th July to attack the strongholds of the pirates on the river Bejang, who had been very daring of late. With reference to future occurrences, I may here mention that, shortly before we left Sarawak, the pirates of the river Senbus sent an insulting message to the Rajah, Sir James Brook, asking " if he were an old woman, that he did not attack them, as he had threatened." It will be seen in the sequel that this message is not likely to be repeated. The Nemesis towed the Royalist up the Batuug Lupar, a noble stream, and moored her at the mouth of the Linga, which falls into the Batung Lupar, to protect a friendly tribe resident, there during the absence of the warriors, who accompanied us on the expedition. We left the Batung Lupar on the 26th, and towed the European boats to Banting Marjose, a low sandy point separating the rivers Senbus and Kaluka, and which jt\ad been appointed by the Rajah as the place of rendezvous for the entire force, European and native; previous to starting for the river Bejang. On the 27th, an old Malay chieftain brought us intelligence that a piratical fleet of 107 prahms with at least 3500 men, had left the Senbus the day before our anival, passing to the N. E. round Tanjong Siri, to attack and plunder such villages on the Bejang as were not powerful enough to resist them. The piratical tribes reside for the most part very far .inland, near the sources of the numerous rivers, of the coast, in which situations the streams are very contracted and rapid, and the banks elevated and heavily timbered. They Jake advantage of these circumstances, and .repdei the advance of an enemy almost impossible, by falling huge trees across the river, and by cutting others and keeping them sus.pended by rattans, so that they can be launched in a moment on a passing boat, crushing .her to atoms. On any alarm at sea they immediately retreat to these strongholds, and sink or otherwise conceal their prahms in .some of the innumerable creeks with which the rivers abound. All attempts, therefore, -at iqtercepting a piratical fleet have hitherto failed. Their practice is to make a raid, and pouncing on some ansuspecting village (as the "Malays poetically express it) like the rush of an alligator, to burn it, killing all the men .and boys, and cuttiug their heads off (which .they value beyond all price at trophies), and carrying off the women as slaves. They then, whether successful or unsuccessful, return, as speedily and quietly as they issued forth, having plundered every native trading prahm they fell in with, ai d murdered the crews. Advantage was therefore taken of the unus»lly favourable opportunity now offered, and

a plan was immediately laid by Captain Farquhar, of H.M.S. Albatross, who commanded theexpedition, and the Rajab, for surprising and cutting them off on their return. The rivers Senbus and Kaluka, the onlj avenues to the country for the pirates, flow into the bight of a deep bay, round the N.E. point of which, called Tanjong Siri, the piratical flotilla must return. The following disposition, therefore, was made of the force under Captain Farquhar' s orders ; — Very fast spy or scout boats were stationed at Tanjong Siii, with instructions to return on the first appearance of the enemy, and announce their approach. The Rajah, with a native force of •bout 40 well-armed prahms, including the SinyZ Rajah, pulling 80 oars, and commanded hy Sir James Brooke in person, and the Rajah Walli, pulling 60 oars, and commanded by the Rajah's nephew, and acknowledged successor, Captain Brooke, of the 88th (Connaught Rangers), as well as the cutters of the Albatross and Royalist, commanded by Lieutenants Wilm-hurst and Everest, were stationed in ambush at the mouth of the Kaluka. A large native force of about 50 prahms was posted at the entrance of the Senbus, supported by the three remaining boats of the Albatross, commanded respectively, by Captain Farquhar, Lieutenant Brickwell, and Mr. Williams, and the two boats of the Nemesis, under Messrs. Goodwin and Baker, as well as by the Ranee, a very efficient river steamer, commanded by Mr. Wright. Trying as it was to the patience of all parties, we remained in position until the 31st, during which interval every precaution human foresight could suggest was adopted to ensure success. Abogt 7| p. m. we were engaged in a rubber of whist on board the Nemesis, and had almost abandoned all hopes of surprising the enemy, when a spy-boat returned at best speed, with the long and anxiously looked for intelligence ,that the piratical fleet had rounded Tanjong Siri, and was rapidly approaching our position. As yet, it was, of course, uncertain for which river they would make ; this questipn, hopweyer, was soon set at rest, and a brisk fire of rockets from the cntters, and of great apd small guns from the remaiiider of the Rajah's force stationed at the entrance to the Kaluka, announced that the enemy had attempted to force that river, and had met with a warmer reception than they anticipated. A rocket was now fired by the Rajah, and on this preconcerted signal, Captain Farquhar moved round Banting Marrose with the Euiopean force under his immediate command, to support the Rajab, if necessary, and also, with ithe view of enclosing the enemy between two fires, leaving, however, a strong native force at the mouih of the Senbus, to intercept the pirates, in case of thejr passing the European boats, and making for this, their native river. Finding themselves foiled at the Kaluka, the enemy (followed fry the cutters, and the Rajah's light skirmishing boats, which kept up a constant fire), put to sea, with the intention of running for the Batung Lupar, here, however, no doubt much to their surprise, they encountered Captain Farquhar's boats, and being saluted with round shot and rockets, they divided their force. They yet however preserved admirable order, some returning to the Kaluka (still most judiciously guarded by the Rajah), renewed their attempt to enter, but with the like bad success ; others, passing in shoal water inside Captain Farquhar, made for the Senbus ; and the remainder, having greater speed than his heavily laden boats, succeeded, for the present in escaping to sea. The Nemesis had hitherto remained at the mouth of the Senbus, in position, but ready to move at a moment's notice to any point where her services might be required. She now acted her part, and that right nobly. Perceiving, by the fire from Captain Farqubar'i boats, that the enemy had attempted to put to sea, Commander Wallace gave chase, and fell in with 17 prahms which had succeeded in escaping Captain Farquhar, and were making in beautiful line for the Batung Lupar. When observed, we saluted them with grape and canister from our 32-poumi-ers, raking the entire line, which we then broke, driving many of them in shore, sadly crippled, where they fell an easy prey to the Dyak boats, which, headed by Mr. Steel, of Sarawak, in the Snake, followed the Nemesis, but never interfered with her fire. We then followed 5 others, and destroyed them in detail, passing round each, and pouring in a constant fire of grape and canister, musquetry, and rifles, until they drifted past, helpless logs, without a living being on board. That discharge of grape was a fearful sight ai, at point-blank ranges, it crashed over the sea, through the devoted prahms, marking its track with floating bodiei of the dying, shattered prahms, planks, shields, and fragments of all sorts. I should have pitied them — but they were pirates, and the thought steeled my heart. At this period the scene was exciting in the extreme — fighting was going t on in all directions — wherever the eye was turned, it met the brilliant double-flash of the great

guns, the bright, quick flime of mupquetry, the lightning streak of the rocket, or the dazzling blaze of the blue light, whilst the ear was saluted by the boom of cannpn, the roar of rausquetry, the wild tone of the torn- torn, the plear startling note of the gong, or the still more fearful war-whoop of fhe Dyak, telling a sad tale of destruction and death. The pirates, now finding themselves surrounded, lost all presence of mind, and order was no longer preserved, the flotilla scattered and fled in every direction, the crews jumping overboard and swimming for the shore, or running their prabms aground, and taking refuge in the jungle. About 11 at night, the fight might be considered over, although isolated firing continued until midnight. The entire force under Captain Farquhar's command may be estimated at 3000 men. From information subsequently obtained, that of the enemy cannot betaken lower than 120 prahms and 4000 men. The loss of the enemy in the action was 90 prabms and not less than 400 men, whilst we lost but 2 men killed and 6 wounded. In addition however to the loss in action, the enemy suffered most severely, being followed in the jungle by the Dyaks, who, like bloodhounds, tracked and hunted them down, cutting their heads off, and bringing them in as proofs of victory ; and even of those who escaped a violent death, at least one-third must have perished before they reached their homes, being altogether desti- ' tute of food. The total loss of the enemy j may therefore be estimated at 1500 men : they have lost an immense quantity of brass guns, muskets, gongs, and arms of all sorts, with which they were well provided, but which they either threw overboard to lighten the prahms, to increase their speed or prevent their sinking, or abandoned on taking to the jungle. More than one mile of the beach of Banting Marrose was strewed with wrecks and abandoned prahms, which were either burnt or carried off as prizes. Taking into consideration all the circumstances — that the surprise did not form any part of the original plan — the smallness of the European foree — the annihilation of a powerful enemy without loss on our side (which is the perfection of generalship) — and that all this was done under the great and manifold disadvantage! of a night attack — it may with truth be said that the highest credit is justly due to all those who originated, as well as to those who so ably executed the plan. As an instance of the atrocity of these blood-thirsty scoundrels, I may mention, that, on the expedition having surprised the village of Matose, as well as two trading prabms, they took some heads and one female prisoner ; in being compelled to take to the jungle, finding they could not carry her with them, they cut her head off, and mangled her body in the most frightful manner, in which state it was found on the morning after the action, lying on the beaih of Banting Marrose, a ghastly object, the legs and arms being nearly severed from the body, which was literally chopped in pieces. A considerable native force was left at the scene of action, to follow the pirates in the jungle, and complete the work of destruction, and the remainder moved up the Senbus about 40 miles, where the Nemesis and the prahms anchored, whilst the light boats proceeded up the river Fakoe to destroy the fortified villages on its banks before the warriors could return to their defence. The advance was opposed by 9 large booms, lately thrown across the river, which were with difficulty removed, but at length a monster tree, so hard that the axes scarcely made any impression on it, seemed an impassable barrier to Tarther progress. After in vain using every effort to overcome the difficulty, the force was disembarked, with the intention of clearing a road through the jungle, and marching overland ; but they had scarcely landed and commenced operations when a skirmish took place, in which four natives of our party were killed, and amongst them Bunsee and Toojong, two sons of the Chief of Sundoo. We all felt the deepest regret for these youths, as (unlike their countrymen) they knew not what fear was, and fell victims to the rashest valour, having moved in advance of their party almost unarmed. One brother was carried in headless, and the other with his face cut off and otherwise fearfully mangled. This untoward event threw such a damp over the spirits of the natives, that it was not deemed advisable to advance until their confidence was somewhat restored, and in the meantime the unusually low water enabled the boats to pass under the tree and proceed up the river, when they destroyed Pakoe and several other villages, and took some prisoners, is well as a great quantity of plunder, amongst which were some ancient jars, which the Dyaks hand down from father to son as heir-looms, and prize very highly, some of them being valued as high as £300. It was indeed fortunate the fleet h&d been destroyed, as otherwise it would have been impossible to perform the service without immense loss of life on our side, as a very small party, armed with rifUs, and stationed in the jungle oppo-

site each boom copld have picked off every European white removing the trees, and with- ' out the loss of a man on their side. During the absence of the boats, numbers of the pirates, who had escaped in the action, but were not aware of our still occupying the river, were- cut off by the Dyak boats, In attempting to ascend the, Senbus ; and I then had an opportunity of witnessing the operation of preserving the heads. The Dyaks having killed their enemy/ immediately cut his head off, with a fiendish yell ; they then scoop out the brains, and erect a small platform of bamboo, about two feet high, through which smoke can pass freely ; and on this they place the head ■, slandiog on the neck. They then light a small fire underneath, and the smoke ascends through the neck and penetrates the head, thoroughly drying the interior. It is then placed in a basket of very open work, and carried suspendeJ from the belt of the captor, more highly prized than ornaments of gold and precious stones. On one occasion I saw five heads on a platform, undergoing the operation, and within two feet of it the Dyaks were coolly cooking some wild boar" chops for their dinner, and inhaling the mingled perfume of baked human and hog's flesh f We now proceeded to the river Rejang, the finest and most interesting of the rivers of the northern coast of Borneo. One glance at the town of Rejang speaks volumes as to the state of this unhappy country, and proclaims the lawless character of one party, and the insanity of the other. The houses, inhabited by Milanos, a race Jistinct from the Malay and the Dyak, are of immense length, some of them containing 300 people. They are erected on pillars of wood 35 feet in height, and are only approached by ladders, which can be drawn up on the appearance of an enemy, each storey forming in itself a perfect fortress An immense gallery, protected by a musketproof breastwork, runs the entire length of the building, which is used as the common sitting room ; and here are collected offensive and defensive weapons of all sorts — brass guns, rifles, spears, shields, stones, &c. ; and they also pour boiling water and oil on the heads of assailants. I was informed that on the erection of the present house, a deep hole was sunk for the corner pillar, and into this (as we place a bottle containing a coin and an engraved inscription) they, horrible to relate, lowered an unfortunate girl, decked out in all her finery, and then dropped the enormous post on her head, crushing her to atoms ! And yet they are now a fair, intelligent race, and cordially unite with the Rajah for the suppression of piracy. Having obtained a sufficient supply of firewood, we proceeded up the river Rejang tothe Kenowit, up which river the boats advanced about 40 miles, and, surprising the enemy, plundered and destroyed their villages,, and took several prisoners. The boats having returned, we passed on to the town of Kenowit, on the inhabitants of which the Rajah imposed a heavy fine, with a threat of visiting them with his heaviest displeasure in the event of their violating the pledge they now gave to abandon their piratical habits. All prisoners were released, with instructions to inform their respective tribes not only that the Rajah had no wish to injure them, but that he would most willingly afford them all the protection in his power, if they would only abandon piracy and live at peace with their neighbours. We then returned to Sarawak on the 24th, well pleased with the extraordinary success of our expedition. We had destroyed the most powerful piratical tribe on the coast, under the most unequivocal circumstances, having intercepted them when returning from a piratical foray, with their hands red with the slaughter of innocent and unsuspecting traders ; thus inflicting a lesson which will be remembered on the coast for ages. We destroyed fortified towns, and crippled the resources of several other tribes, at the same time proving to them, by sparing and ultimately liberating the prisoners, that we are not actuated by the thirst for blood, which is the real motive for Dyak warfare. I feel great pleasure in stating that the Rajah was enabled to control our Dyak allies and induce them (much as they have suffered) to spare the women, children, and unresisting men, who, instead of being butchered in cold blood and beheaded, were now, for the first time, brought in as prisoners — a grand step towards the ultimate adoption of the customs of civilised warfare, which had hitherto been invariably outraged.