250 BULLETIN 127, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



Model of Malay pirate boat. 



A type of " prahu " used by the pirates of the Eastern Archipelago 

 for attacking unarmed merchant vessels. It was armed with two 

 cannons and four swivels of light caliber. 



The model represents a wooden, keel craft, of very peculiar form ; 

 moderately sharp, excessively hollow bow ; raking curved stem ; long 

 curiously carved head: long, shaqD, concave floor, which forms an 

 acute angle with top ; long, easy run ; slightly raking straight stern- 

 post; narrow, square-heeled rudder; heave and high square stern; 

 medium sheer except at stern, where the deck curves up strongly; 

 high poop, under which is cabin, magazines, etc. ; loose bamhoo deck 

 forward of poop ; fitted to row 28 oars ; equipped with two cannons 

 mounted on wooden carriages and pointing forward through wooden 

 bulwarks extending athwart the bow forward of foremast; swivel 

 on each side of foremast, mounted on stanchion and pointing 

 over the j^lank poop, one on each side ; two tall, slim bamboo masts, 

 fitted to lower; two square sails of bamboo; a small bowsprit ex- 

 tends beyond the head, but no sail is set on it. 



Dimensions of fvahu. — Length -over all (end of long head to taff- 

 rail), 66 feet 6 inches; between perpendiculars, 50 feet; beam, 11 

 feet; depth, 3 feet 8 inches; foremast, above deck, 45 feet 6 inches; 

 fore flagpole (lashed to top of foremast), 16 feet; foresail, 26 feet 

 high by 15 feet 6 inches mean width ; mainmast, above deck, 47 feet ; 

 flagpole, 16 feet (10 feet above masthead) ; mainsail, 28 feet high 

 by 17 feet mean width ; diameter of masts, 5 inches. Scale of model, 1 

 inch equals 1 foot. 



The island of Sooloo appears to have been the chief center of 

 pirates in the first half of the nineteenth century. In the report of 

 Wilkes's exploring expedition (vol. 5, pp. 376-377) the following 

 reference is made to the pirates and their vessels: "The follow- 

 ing are the piratical establishments of Sooloo * * *, The first 

 * * * is the port of Soung * * * in the island of Sooloo, not 

 so much from the number of men available here for this pursuit, as 

 the facility of disposing of the goods * * *, There are other 

 rendezvous on Pulo Toolyan, at Bohol, Tonho, Pilas, Tawi Tawi, 

 Sumlout. Pantutaran, Parodasan, Palawan, and Basillan, and Tau- 

 toli on Celebes. These are the most noted, but there are man}^ minor 

 places where half a dozen frahus are fitted out. Those of Sooloo, 

 and those who go under the name of the Lanuns (name derived from 

 bay on south side of Mindanao Island), have praJms of larger size 

 and better fitted. They are from twenty to thirty tons burden, and 

 are propelled by both sails and oars. They draw but little water, 

 are fast sailers, and well adapted for navigating through these dan- 

 gerous seas. These pirates are supposed to possess in the whole 



