CHAP. XXIV.] THE MAGINDAlsO P1RATE8. 59 



some Galela men had established themselves as collectoi-s 

 of gum-dammar, with which they made torches for the 

 supply of the Ternate market. About a hundred yards 

 back rises a rather steep hill, and a short walk having 

 shown me that there was a tolerable path up it, I deter- 

 mined to stay here for a few days. Opposite us, and all 

 along this coast of Batchian, stretches a row of fine islands 

 completely uninhabited. Whenever I asked the reason why 

 no one goes to live in them, the answer always was, " For 

 fear of the Magindano pirates." Every year these scourges 

 of the Archipelago wander in one direction or another, 

 making their rendezvous on some uninhabited island, and 

 carrying devastation to all the small settlements around ; 

 robbing, destroying, killing, or taking captive all they mee 

 with. Their long well-manned praus escape from the 

 pursuit of any sailing vessel by pulling away right in the 

 wind's eye, and the warning smoke of a steamer generally 

 enables them to hide in some shallow bay, or narrow river, 

 or forest-eovered inlet, till the danger is passed. The only 

 effectual way to put a stop to their depredations would be 

 to attack them in their strongholds and villages, and 

 compel them to give up piracy, and submit to strict 

 surveillance. Sir James Brooke did this with the pirates 

 of the north-west coast of Borneo, and deserv^es the thanks 

 of the whole population of the Archipelago for having rid 

 them of half their enemies. 



