134 



A VISIT TO THi: INDIAN ARCHIPELAGO. 



of the seam at which they were now working was sonio 

 three hundred yai\is from tlie water's edge ; uiid^ although 

 labour was cheap and the contract price had been 

 raised, they could with difficulty work out ten tous per 

 day. By working in the cool of the morning and 

 evening, m put on board in a few days 150 tons, iilling 

 the after-hold. We had just completed our dirty job^ 

 when tlio news reached us that the Sakarran and Serebas 

 pirate fleet had put to sea, and that the Alifutross, 

 accompanied by Sir James Brooke and his native force, 

 was out in search of them ; but I may as well state at 

 once that the pirate fleet was even then destroyed, as we 

 ascertained on reaching the Bornean coast. 



WhUoj however, our sliip is on her way thither, I will 

 endeavour to contribnte towartls the conviction of the 

 unprejudiced a few of those stubborn fact«, from wluch it 

 may be decided whether the suiTercrs at the h anils 

 of Captain Farquhar and Bir James Brooke were 

 peaceful traders " or blood- thirsty and systematic 

 pirates. There wiU always be some peculiarly constituted 

 minds, fortified by a sort of moral gutta-percha, through 

 which neither pre-conceived opinion can evaporate, iior 

 a deluge, even, of new evidence effect an entrance. For 

 such persons it were vain to write ; they can hut be 

 recommended to vini the Eastern ArcMpclago, Let 

 them cross the path of these peaceful traders. They 

 will probably return better able tlian before to define a 

 pirate, and to illnstrate the uaes of a kris. 



