202 MR. WYNDHAM'S LETTER. [1844. 



directed to any person into whose hands it may fall, wherein he states 

 the perilous situation of himself, officers and the rest of the crew ; six 

 of the crew, Lascars, came here in the Soloo prow, brought by the Cap- 

 tain of her, from the Sultan of Curan ; on arrival here of the prow, they 

 immediately made known to me all the particulars, as they have been 

 eye-witnesses to all the transactions of the damned treacherous thieves 

 of llajahs, who have robbed the poor fellows of all they had saved. As 

 yet I do not know what ransom I have to pay for the six Lascars, but 

 I suppose not less than seven hundred dollars for the whole. Had they 

 been wrecked within the Sultan of Sooloo's dominions, or kidnapped by 

 any of the Bangene pirates, I could demand them as British subjects, 

 and, although myself a Briton, I am here considered as a Chief, and could 

 demand their liberty, but they are a long way from here, and to rescue 

 them it will be necessary to use force. I heartily wish our Government 

 may take cognizance of this, which I consider a serious affair, and give 

 them a good drubbing, which will teach them better manners in future. 

 I do not know if I am acting right in ransoming these Lascars for so 

 great a sum ; however, they are British subjects, and to leave them here 

 is consigning them to death, which humanity forbids, and although I 

 have no security for the recovery of the money, poor as I am, I have 

 not the heart to leave the poor fellows here. 



If this reaches you in safety, forward the enclosed as quick as possi- 

 ble to some British Authority, and make it as public as you can. 

 Within these three days my hopes have somewhat survived, as I am 

 taking in pearl shell daily ; according to recent news, I doubt not I 

 shall take perhaps four or five hundred piculs, but not leave here till 

 too late to meet your agreement with the Frenchman, the shell I am 

 receiving is very nice shell, I am just going now to weigh forty piculs. 



Yours truly, 



WILLIAM WYNDHAM. 



LETTER FROM THE MASTER OF THE ' PREMIER '. 



(Given verbatim et literatim.') 



Copy. Goonong Tabboo River, 10th Sept., 1844. 



To tilt BRITISH CONSUL or any European Merchant at 



Sooloo or Manila. 

 Gentlemen, 



I take this opportunity of informing you of the sad state 

 we arc now living in. On the 27th of July, 1844, the barque 

 ' Premier ' from Hong-Kong, bound to the Island of Bally, in ballast 



