1844.] LETTER RESPECTING THE ' PREMIER.' 203 



and Chinese cash, for Rice, was wrecked on Pulo Panjang, and was 

 obliged to take to our boats, but next day after leaving the ship, was 

 taken in tow by a proa, and enticed us to go to Sultan Gooning's, as 

 he would send us to Macassar soon ; but when we got there, he put 

 us off from day to day, and made the excuse, that he would get all 

 things from the ship, and send everything to Macassar with us in a 

 proa. 



We remained at his house five days, and was sent on board a proa 

 in the river to live, where we had little to eat, and not a mat to lie 

 upon. When he came from the wreck he had twenty or thirty proas 

 loaded with all the iron and cash they could get ; and it was agreed 

 with the Eajah of Balongan to divide the ship's crew. So the Sultan 

 kept six Lascars and us seven Europeans ; the Lascars are all slaves, 

 and we hear that he will sell us to the Sagi people, to be taken into 

 the interior of Borneo, so as we will never be heard of more. Upon 

 hearing this, I went to him to see if he would allow us to leave his 

 island, and after some time he said we might take our own boats, he 

 having the oars, rudder and sails, with our own provisions, and boats' 

 rullocks ; however, we made our escape in the night to Eajah Moody's, 

 and there remain, but the Sultan is going to war with him if he does 

 not give us up, and has told several people that he will murder us, 

 so we are obliged to keep watch at night at the Eajah's house, and 

 several attempts has been made to set fire to it. On the 12th 

 (that is two days) they go to war, and we are to use the large guns. 



We humbly beg, whoever may get these few lines, that he will use 

 his power to take from this country any that may remain alive of us 

 to tell the whole of our sad fate. The names of the Europeans are 



W. BROWNRIGG, Master. 



J. WATSON, Chief Mate. 



J. MATHERS, Second Mate. 



F. POTINA, Seaman. 



H. MATHERS, Apprentice. 



W. PARKEN, Apprentice. 



S. Me' DOWELL, Apprentice. 



The two latter sick. 



We poor seaman beg for relief with all possible speed, and will ever 

 be your obedient servants. 



(Signed.) WM. BROWNRIGG, 



