208 SUSPICIOUS PRAHUS. [1844. 



effect ; they now changed their manner from intimidation 

 to that of coaxing, inviting him to describe, fully, all that 

 he had seen to the Sultan and others, who had not been 

 so fortunate as himself, in viewing leisurely, and having 

 all things clearly explained to him. Great fear pre- 

 vailed amongst the ladies when the Chiefs were afloat, 

 as a report gained credit, on shore, that their husbands 

 had been made prisoners ; and I was informed, that the 

 principal female leaders were wo-manning their canoes to 

 release them, trusting, doubtless, to our gallantry in 

 yielding to their demands 



This diversion had a most salutary effect ; it rendered 

 all parties more civil, and while it expedited the prahu 

 intended to accompany us, it gave us, also, much greater 

 weight in the affairs of the island, and I may say, admitted 

 me into their councils. Several suspicious prahus, sup- 

 posed to be connected with the pirates, took their depar- 

 ture about this period, and from the several matters com- 

 municated to me, touching the pirates of Balligmni. 

 (Bangene of the charts), I am satisfied that ample grounds 

 could be adduced for their dispersion, or even annihilation. 

 They assert, here, " that they have no connexion with 

 them," but during our detention, several of these boats 

 arrived, and I was informed that slaves captured amongst 

 the Philippines were publicly sold in the market, and that 

 others remained for sale in the island. I was offered suf- 

 ficient proof of their connexion with their Chiefs here, and 

 guides to their haunts, if I would act ; but as our orders 

 were imperative, not to interfere unless an act of piracy 

 on a British vessel was proved, I could have no pretence 

 for taking up the cause of the Spanish Government. 



