260 SLAVES. [1845. 



brother chiefs, as well as to the system of slavery which 

 is its foundation, although he could not help expressing 

 some chagrin at losing one of his lads, which escaped 

 to the 'Samarang' and claimed our protection, as a 

 subject of Spain captured by the pirates. 



During our stay here many had sought protection on 

 board the French squadron, as well as the ' Samarang ', 

 and were thus rescued from slavery. One, a relative of 

 the deceased wife of Mr. Wyndham, a lady of Ilo-Ilo, on 

 the southern coast of Panay, was still a captive, but 

 beyond the reach of even Mr. Wyndham' s interest. I was 

 informed " that he might be fortunate enough to reach 

 the c Samarang ' " but the moment the chiefs were aware 

 (on the application for the release of the first that reached 

 our decks,) that having once set foot on board of a ship 

 of war, they could not be released, the others were more 

 sharply looked after, and marched into the interior until 

 after our departure. From two of these refugees, lately 

 captured by the Moros, (Balligninis and Illations), taken 

 to BaUignini, and subsequently sold at Sooloo, I learned 

 that the pirate den at Ballignini, might be destroyed very 

 easily, by making the attack during the interval of 

 their cruizes, which would happen between the months 

 May and October. That previous to quitting the strong- 

 hold, upon this service, their guns and valuable property 

 are buried, and the entire establishment left to the care 

 of their old men, cripples, and women, the entrance being 

 so staked as to prevent any, but a person in possession of 

 their secret, from gaining entrance during this interval ; 

 but that any of the lads at Sooloo, lately captured, would 

 prove sufficiently expert to lead a boat force in without 

 the chance of resistance. These liberated slaves would 



