1 ( J2 SUPPRESSION OF PIRACY. 



construction, their swiftness, and their light draft of 

 water, they are always able to evade the boats of our 

 cruisers; but should it be found advisable on the 

 establishment of Labuh-an, to reduce these people, 

 who are now no less than the Lanuns and Soolus, 

 though in a narrower sphere the terror of the coast, 

 they can be easily and effectually blockaded, and thus 

 soon reduced to quietness. At present, though they 

 have seen the gallant Captain Keppel in their river, 

 and at their own doors, they have no adequate idea 

 of our power, and fancy, as they have frequently 

 committed piracies since they were last visited, with 

 impunity, that no further notice will be taken of 

 them. It is to be wished that they may soon find this 

 an erroneous notion, and learn, though circumstances 

 may for a time prevent their punishment, that the 

 trade and interests of civilised nations cannot be 

 interrupted with impunity. 



So difficult is it at present to induce them to leave 

 off, as a body, their piratical habits, that though the 

 first act of Mr. Brooke in the country, even before he 

 assumed the government of Sarawak, was to turn 

 back a fleet of ninety boats which had been invited 

 by the rajah to attack a land tribe, they have fre- 

 quently since had the ignorance or impertinence to re- 

 quest his permission to destroy towns and villages under 

 his protection. Their first act of piracy since the expe- 

 dition of the 'Dido' was to send out the fleet of 

 eighteen boats, previously mentioned as having been 

 captured by our allies, the Balow Dyaks. This 



