1844.] BURN PIRATE HAUNT. 137 



them. Just as this fusilade opened, we observed a large 

 prahu approaching suddenly from the rear of the island, 

 evidently an accomplice, and endeavouring to cut off 

 the barge, but on espying the muzzle of the brass six- 

 pounder in her bow, they altered their intentions and 

 sheered off. 1 waved them to keep away, but a man, speak- 

 ing English intelligibly, and at the same time hoisting a 

 dirty Dutch flag, hailed, saying, " that they belonged to 

 Tidore ", and merely wished to go to the river north of us, 

 directly away from the island. He was directed to pro- 

 ceed, but having cleared, as he estimated, the range of 

 the gun, he gradually changed his course, making a 

 circuit, and using every effort to get behind the island 

 and rejoin his companions in our rear. A warning shot 

 was sent over him, and a rocket followed, but this only 

 accelerated his motions, and he effected his purpose. 



As I could not afford to lose my observations for 

 securing this position, I waited for the afternoon sights 

 and then packed up, with a view to retaliate this piece of 

 treachery. On rounding the island I perceived two boats 

 in the distance, which had made off, whilst the village 

 from whence they had escaped remained apparently 

 deserted. Mr. Hooper was despatched in the gig to 

 destroy the huts and vessels on the beach, and rejoin us ; 

 which service he executed in his usual good style, annihi- 

 lating, in addition to the village, six prahus, evidently 

 designed for piratical pursuits. We chased the flying 

 prahus in the barge, captured one, from which the crew 

 had deserted, and came up with the other just in time to 

 give them a dose of round and grape as they scrambled 

 over the reef, leaving us in possession of their prahu, the 



