213 THE ARU ISLANDS. [chap. xxx. 



and then swimming off again when almost exhausted, i 

 Two other prans were also plundered, and the crew of one 

 of them murdered to a man. They are said to be Sooloo 

 pirates, but have Bugis among them. On their way here 

 they have devastated one of the small islands east of 

 Ceram. It is now eleven years since they have visited 

 Aru, and by thus making their attacks at long and uncer- 

 tain intervals the alarm dies away, and they find a 

 population for the most part unarmed and unsuspicious of 

 danger. None of the small trading vessels now cany 

 arms, though they did so for a year or two after the last 

 attack, which was just the time when there was the least 

 occasion for it. A week later one of the smaller pirate 

 boats was captured in the "blakang tana." Seven men 

 were killed and three taken prisoners. The larger vessels 

 have been often seen but cannot be caught, as they have 

 very strong crews, and can always escape by rowing out 

 to sea in the eye of the wind, returning at night. They 

 will thus remain among the innumerable islands and 

 channels, till the change of the monsoon enables them to 

 sail westward. 



March 9th. — For four or five days we have had a con- 

 tinual gale of wind, with occasional gusts of great fury, 

 which seem as if they would send Dobbo into the sea. 

 Eain accompanies it almost every alternate hour, so that ■! 

 it is not a pleasant time. During such weather I can do 



i 



