334 THE OCEAN. 
the native traders resorting to Singapore; when 
about to return home, they surprise some defence- 
_less native village, and carry off the whole of the 
inhabitants to be sold into slavery. During the 
absence of the pirates, their wives and children 
remain in the harbour, to take charge of the booty 
that may be brought in; and as these are scarcely 
less warlike than the men, no other guard is neces- 
sary against the inoffensive natives of Borneo. When 
the band has acquired a considerable amount of 
plunder, they return to their own island, and others 
supply their place. Even in the neighbourhood of 
Singapore, although a British dependency, the Ma- 
lay pirates absolutely swarm. The numberless little 
islands in the Straits, divided by channels known 
only to themselves, are like so many impregnable 
fastnesses, into which they drag their unfortunate 
victims, and plunder them at their leisure, defying 
pursuit. The occupation has acquired all the form 
and regularity of asystem. A chief of some petty 
Malay state, whose fortunes have been rendered 
desperate by gambling, collects around him a few 
adventurous and restless spirits, and sails to some 
retired island. A village is formed, as a depdot for 
the booty, and the armed prahus lie in wait or prowl 
about. If the adventure prove successful, the chief 
soon gains accessions; the village grows into a town; 
and the fleet separates into squadrons, which scour 
the seas of different localities. They usually sail 
in company, the fleets consisting of three to twenty 
prahus, each of which carries large and small guns, 
and from fifteen to forty men. The captured vessels 
