118 DEFENCE OF SOOLOO. [1844, 



guns were served by Europeans ; no more than five guns 

 could, however, be mounted on each battery. On the 

 chance of future hostilities, arising from their persisting 

 in giving shelter to the pirates, I examined these 

 batteries from the position where I would have placed 

 the ' Samarang'. Not a gun from them could have told, 

 and they would readily be driven from their works, by 

 shells, whilst a force landed on either side, would take 

 them in flank ; in which direction they had omitted to 

 provide any embrasures or defences. 



After taking leave of our interpreter, Mr. Wyndham, 

 who appears to possess much influence over these people, 

 we proceeded to the westward with the intention of 

 securing our southern passage by the eastern coast of 

 Borneo. Shortly after clearing Sooloo the breeze failed, 

 and, to avail myself of this delay, I visited the Island of 

 Sooladde, and obtained data for fixing its position. The 

 calm continued the greater part of the day, and the 

 Officer left in command, finding her drifting rapidly to 

 the eastward, tried to anchor with the kedge ; but the 

 hawser snapped, and she was driven, with the loss of an 

 anchor, a considerable distance before the contrary tide 

 assisted her return, when, having recovered the edge of 

 the bank, we dropped a bower anchor for the night, arid 

 at daylight, when the tide suited, made another effort to 

 get southerly. On the 21st we were again becalmed, 

 near an island which was not satisfactorily placed on the 

 chart ; we therefore anchored to secure its position. 

 Many boats were noticed fishing, but one of a piratical 

 complexion having anchored near my observing station, 

 a boat was sent to reconnoitre him ; he was inclined to 



