144 



A VISIT TO THE INDIAN ARCHlPELAtJU. 



branclies of tlie Li pat and Suaaang, The Malays of Lipat, 

 having been found trading with the pirates, received a 

 severe lecture, and were then compelled to furnish guides 

 to the interior of the Rembos hrancli of the £3erebas. 

 About sixtj miles from the sea, up the Lipat, a force of 

 2000 men landed, and, during an absence from the boats 

 of three djiys, captured several strong-holds of the pirates, 

 destroying large stores of licc and salt They met with 

 but little resistance ; for, in fact, the enemy were absent 

 about other miscMef. 



The flotilla now returning towards Serebas, a small 

 advanced boat encountered forty piratical prahus at the 

 entrance of the Rembas. " Smelling a rat,"' they retreated 

 precipitately, leaving behind many articles very acceptable 

 to the force; which now, having effected towai'ds the 

 chastisement of the pirates as much as was practicable 

 without a stronger accession of European aid, left the river 

 Serebas, and dispersed to their respective homes. Ten 

 boats^ however, from Sadong, being set upon in the night 

 wMh at anchor by 150 Sakarran prahus, who were on 

 their way to unite with the Serebas fieefe in an attempt to 

 surpiise the town of Banting, had a severe engagement 

 with them* The od(L^ against them were diminished by 

 the opportune assistance of thirty-five pralius of the 

 Balow Dyaks, who hurried to the scene : by their fissist- 

 ance the Sakarrans were defeated and driven back upon 

 their own river, with loss of four large prahus. But a 

 more important result of this action, together with the 



