nilATKS UP THE S A DONG. 



13d 



belonged to a squadron whicli had destroyed one of 

 the villages in the Delta of the Eejang* He had gone 

 to a short distance inland, on a little excursion of 

 his own, to procure a few heads for his privat© 

 gratification; and, on hia return to the river's side, he 

 found that the balla to Tvhich he belonged had sailed 

 away. Umvilliiig to trust himself to the mercies of 

 the people ^hom he aud his countrymen had so ill usedj 

 he placed himself on a floating nipah palm-trce, and 

 pushed into the streant, hoping tliat the flood-tide might 

 carry laim up the river. The ebb, however, which ran 

 the strongest, conveyed him out to sea ; and there he 

 was fonnd, and brought in for judgment. After a short 

 detention, ho was dismissed with a suitable, but useless 

 caution to his chiefs. 



That the caution was useless will sufficiently appear 

 from tlie fact ttiat, on the 1st Mai*ch, a formidable force 

 of Serebaa pirates, comprising between sixty and one 

 Imndred prahus, dashed up the Sadong river, headed by a 

 notoriouB chief, the Laksimana of Paku, and attJickcd in 

 detail the detached farm-houses which are situated on 

 the river for some miles below the town of Gadoiig. The 

 town itself they did not attempt, knowing it to be strong 

 and well prepared for defence, 



Tkey had selected for their purpose the time of harvest, 

 when the men were widely scattered, and the unfortunate 

 women and children were left unprotected. The farm- 

 houses attacked in this state generally fall an easy prey. 



