SUNDEY ATROCITIES. 



161 



to haTe all their eggs in one nest, Descending the Serebasf 

 part of the great baCa, aix prahns detached themselves 

 when clear of the riYer, and stood to the westward. 

 They first paid their unwelcome visit off Sambas, where 

 they robbed and murdered a few iinfortmiate Chinese 

 fishenaon. Off the island of Serhassan they captured 

 a trading prahu. Returning thence, tliej suddenly 

 appeared before the village at the Marotabus entrance of 

 the Sarawak' — only twenty miles from the Hajali's capital, 

 IThey gave as a reason for their visit, that some time 

 had elapsed ainco thej had taken any Sarawak heads ; 

 they were now, therefore, come to help thcmselvea." 

 Accordingly, they landed a force and attacked the village. 

 It was obstinately defended, and the pirates were ulti- 

 mately repulsed, but with loss of hfe on both sides* 

 They then took possession of a smaU trading prahu 

 bo\md to Kaluka, putting the owner and five men to 

 death. A poor Rling, who was supercargo^ tried hard to 

 escape oe shore by swimming ; but, before he reached the 

 landing-place, he received a spear-wound, m well as a 

 fearful sword-cut ; he stiU managed to crawl under the 

 house, and, cHmbing a post^ got in through tlie lantie 

 floor : there tottering to a comer, he rolled himself up 

 in a mat, and died. The only man who escaped was a 

 Malay, named Lahafc^ who jumped overboard afler seeing 

 his father and two uncles massacred. 



After this last exploit the same piratical dctacbment 

 continued their course eastward ; chased a few fishermen, 



