7 
RAJA HAJI. 189 
The Governor, therefore, immediately had a company of thirty 
native soldiers detached to the Lazarusveld to reinforce the outer 
battery. 
Jan. 15.—The detached company, sent yesterday evening to the 
outer battery of Tranquéra, with a few armed volunteers, and a 
company of fifty Malays raised this morning, marched from the 
Lazarusveld, and by midday had reached the stream near Batang 
Tiga. They encountered there the Selangoer men who had landed 
the previous day, and a fight ensued. Some additional men were 
sent to their assistance and ammunition, but before this rein- 
forcement could reach them the first troops had been oblged to 
retire, on account of the superior strength of the enemy who 
numbered about 200 men, with the loss of one man who was shot 
dead and two wounded. They marched back, however, the enemy 
not daring to follow them, to the before-mentioned battery which 
they reached as it got dark. 
During the night the enemy set on fire several abandoned Malay 
huts, and fired a few shots at our advanced posts, but without any 
effect. 
Jan. 16.—It was reported that the enemy were actively occupied 
in preparing stockades at Batang Tiga, and in burning houses at 
Batang Tiga and at Tandjong Klne. Firing continued there during 
the whole day, and the following night. 
Jan. 17.—At daybreak, by the orders of Lieut. Auguste Gravestein, 
a detachment was sent to Batang Tiga consisting of two hundred 
Native and twenty European soldiers, besides two bombardiers 
and eight musketeers with two field-pieces of 3 tb., and one small 
- gun with their appurtenances. To this force was added from two to 
three hundred volunteers—Chinese, Malays and Gentoos (Jentie- 
ven)—armed with pikes, cutlasses, and some with blunderbusses, 
commanded by Abraham Couperus, merchant, and Fiscal * of this 
Government. 
Marching from the Lazarusveld, they embarked there and 
rowed to the bay of Batang Tiga, two steenbokken { commanded by 
* In 1576 a Regulation was issued that the Admiralty Court should 
consist of the “ Fiskaal,” the Recorder (“Greffier”) and seven members. This 
Court gave judgment on all prizes, booties and crimes at sea, not committed 
by the crew, which remained subject to the jurisdiction of the Admiral. 
+ Abraham Couperus afterwards rose to be Governor of Malacca and 
held that office when Malacca was taken by the British in 1795.—See No. 7 
Journal, Straits Asiatic Society, p. 58. 
~ Mortars with which stone projectiles were used. 
