CHAP. XXX.] THE PIRATES VISIT US 211 



sible for my safety, so that they have an excellent excuse 

 for refusing to stir. 



Several praus went out in search of the pirates, sentinels 

 were appointed, and watch-fires lighted on the beach to 

 guard against the possibility of a night attack, though it 

 was hardly thought they would be bold enough to attempt 

 to plunder Dobbo. The next day the praus returned, and 

 we had positive information that these scourges of the 

 Eastern seas were really among us. One of Herr Warz- 

 bergen's small praus also arrived in a sad plight. It had 

 been attacked six days before, just as it was returning 

 from the "blakang tana." The crew escaped in their 

 small boat and hid in the jungle, while the pirates came 

 up and plundered the vessel. They took away everything 

 but the cargo of mother-of-pearl shell, which was too 

 bulky for them. All the clothes and boxes of the men, and 

 the sails and cordage of the prau, were cleared off. They 

 had four large war boats, and fired a volley of musketry 

 as they came up, and sent off their small boats to the 

 attack. After they had left, our men observed from their 

 concealment that three had stayed behind with a small 

 boat ; and being driven to desperation by the sight of the 

 plundering, one brave fellow swam off armed only witli 

 his parang, or chopping-knife, and coming on them un- 

 awares made a desperate attack, killing one and wounding 

 the other two, receiving himself numbers of slight wounds, 



p2 



