334 THE OCEAN. 



the native traders resorting to Singapore ; when 

 about to return home, they surprise some defence- 

 less native village, and carry off the whole of the 

 inhabitants to be sold into slavery. During the 

 absence of the pirates, their wives and children 

 remain in the harbour, to take charge of the booty 

 that may be brought in ; and as these are scarcely 

 less warlike than the men, no other guard is neces- 

 sary against the inoffensive natives of Borneo. When 

 the band has acquired a considerable amount of 

 plunder, they return to their own island, and others 

 supply their place. Even in the neighbourhood of 

 Singapore, although, a British dependency, the Ma- 

 lay pirates absolutely swarm. The numberless little 

 islands in the Straits, divided by channels known 

 only to themselves, are like so many impregnable 

 fastnesses, into which they drag their unfortunate 

 victims, and plunder them at their leisure, defying 

 pursuit. The occupation has acquired all the form 

 and regularity of a system. A chief of some petty 

 Malay state, whose fortunes have been rendered 

 desperate by gambling, collects around him a few 

 adventurous and restless spirits, and sails to some 

 retired island. A village is formed, as a depot for 

 the booty, and the armed prahus lie in wait or prowl 

 about. If the adventure prove successful, the chief 

 soon gains accessions; the village grows into a town; 

 and the fleet, separates into squadrons, which scour 

 the seas of different localities. They usually sail 

 in company, the fleets consisting of three to twenty 

 prahus, each of which carries large and small guns, 

 and from fifteen to forty men. The captured vessels 



