XX11 INTRODUCTION. 



Hearing of hostile demonstrations on the 

 part of certain formidable pirates, Mr. Brooke 

 went to Singapore, and had several inter- 

 views with Sir Thomas Cochrane. The ad- 

 miral proceeded to Borneo Proper, accom- 

 panied by Mr. Brooke, with a fleet of seven 

 vessels, and had an interview with the Sultan 

 and Muda Hassim, and an action was shortly 

 after fought with the pirates, in which they 

 were completely routed, but not without some 

 loss on the English side. " Never," said the 

 Borneons, " was such a war in Bruni." All 

 tendered their submission to Muda Hassim, 

 and the Sultan and Mr. Brooke returned in 

 triumph to Sarawak. 



Scarcely had these events taken place, when 

 the Sultan, who had been accounted imbecile 

 and a mere cypher, was discovered to be not 

 without treachery, and the means of effecting 

 it. He caused Muda Hassim and many others 

 to be murdered, because they were friendly to 

 the English ; and he had employed a wretch, 

 Mr. Brooke's greatest and most inveterate 

 enemy, although his life had been three times 

 interceded for by his intended victim, to 



