S O O L O O. 377 



Rhio. Some of the most noted, I was informed, were fitted out from 

 Johore, in the very neighbourhood of the English authorities at Singa- 

 pore ; they generally have their haunts on the small islands on the 

 coast, from which they make short cruises. 



They are noted for their arrangements for preventing themselves 

 from receiving injury, in the desperate defences that are sometimes 

 made against them. These small prahus have usually swivels 

 mounted, which, although not of great calibre, are capable of throw- 

 ing a shot beyond the range of small-arms. It is said that they 

 seldom attempt an attack unless the sea is calm, which enables them 

 to approach their victims with more assurance of success, on account 

 of the facility with which they are enabled to manage their boats. 

 The frequent calms which occur in these seas between the land and 

 sea breezes, afford them many opportunities of putting their villanous 

 plans in operation ; and the many inlets and islets, with which they 

 are well acquainted, afford places of refuge and ambush, and for con- 

 cealing their booty. They are generally found in small flotillas of 

 from six to twenty prahus, and when they have succeeded in disabling 

 a vessel at long shot, the sound of the gong is the signal for boarding, 

 which if successful, results in a massacre more or less bloody, accord- 

 ing to the obstinacy of the resistance they have met with. 



In the winter months, the Straits of Malacca are most infested 

 with them ; and during the summer, the neighbourhood of Singapore, 

 Point Romania, and the channels in the vicinity. In the spring, 

 from February to May, they are engaged in procuring their supplies, 

 in fishing, and refitting their prahus for the coming year. 



I have frequently heard plans proposed for the suppression of these 

 pirates, particularly of those in the neighbourhood of the settlements 

 under British rule. The European authorities are much to blame for 

 the quiescent manner in which they have so long borne these depre- 

 dations, and many complaints are made that Englishmen, on being- 

 transplanted to India, lose that feeling of horror for deeds of blood, 

 such as are constantly occurring at their very doors, which they 

 would experience in England. There are, however, many diffi- 

 culties to overcome before operations against the pirates can be 

 effective. The greatest of these is the desire of the English to 

 secure the good-will of the chiefs of the tribes by whom they are 

 surrounded. They thus wink at their piracies on the vessels of other 

 nations, or take no steps to alleviate the evils of slavery. Indeed 



vol. v. 95 



