634 Political and Commercial Relations, %c. [Oct. 



lious vassals ; the worse than uselessness of British law, applied to a 

 state of society for which it was never framed, are, it is my firm con- 

 viction, the remote causes of the present system of piracy now pre- 

 vailing ; of the numerous unpunished murders and outrages which 

 disgrace not only the territories of Malayan chiefs, but also territories 

 lying nominally under the protection of the British flag ; and of the 

 impoverished and disorganized condition of the Malays in general. 



The resources of the soil have been almost hermetically sealed to 

 the occupier by the frequent and protracted feuds already alluded to. 

 Hence the peasant, driven from his village and lawful means of sub- 

 sistence, and tempted by the smooth seas, the favorable navigation 

 and shelter from pursuit afforded by the unexplored rivers, creeks, 

 and numerous islets of the Straits, and by the charms of a life so 

 congenial to the free and restless spirit of a Malay, is induced to 

 scour the water for a precarious subsistence by fishing or plunder, or 

 by both, as opportunity chance to present*? 



* The prahus used by Malay pirates are from eight to ten tons burthen, 

 extremely well manned and remarkably fast, particularly with the paddles com- 

 monly used. They are generally armed with swivels on their bows, centre, 

 and stern, of small calibre, but long range. When preparing to attack, strong 

 bulwarks of wood called Apilans are erected, behind which the crew ensconce 

 themselves, fighting with their long guns until their prey is disabled; or till the 

 gong sound the signal for boarding. But what they mainly depend upon for safety 

 and success is their skill in paddling, (Malay pirates scarcely ever attack except 

 during the lull between the land and sea breeze, or in a calm,) the swiftness of 

 their boats, and their knowledge of the intricate channels between the islands, 

 or over the bars of the rivers into which they generally contrive to escape, 

 baffling their pursuers, and often leaving them aground on one of the numer- 

 ous shoals or mud-banks which their own superior knowledge enables them 

 to avoid. 



The prahus of the Sulu and Illanun pirates are much larger and better equip- 

 ped than those which commonly infest the Straits. The Malay pirates make 

 their attacks and move in small fleets of from six to twenty prahus. 



During the months of October, November, December, and January, they will 

 be found cruizing up and down the west coast of the peninsula and the opposite 

 shore of Sumatra. From June to the end of September, they are often to be 

 seen among the islets south of Singapore, and in the creeks and rivers of the 

 Johore coast. February, March and April are spent in fishing, collecting sea- 

 weed, and preparing for future piratical expeditions. 



The crews are armed with boarding spears (some of very great length), 

 krisses, Malay hatchets and swords (the parang and kleywang), muskets, blun- 

 derbusses, and a variety of missiles, such as sticks pointed and burnt at the 

 end, stones, &c. 



The most noted haunts for pirates on the western coast of the peninsula 

 (according to information derived from a Malay of Salangore, who had in his 



