1832.] 
BOMBARDMENT. 
121 
CHAPTER VIIL 
Bombardment of Tuca de Lama — The Malays ask a Truce — Alarm- of the in- 
habitants of Soo-soo — The friendly Rajah, Po Adam, relieves their apprehensions 
— Embassy of submission from the Malays of Quallah-Battoo — The Commodore's 
admonition to them, interpreted by Po Adam — The Potomac anchors at Soo-soo 
to procure water — Precautions against a surprise — Po Adam's friendship for the 
Americans, and consequent losses — His character, dress, and personal appearance 
— His allegiance to the King of Acheen — Outrage of the king's brother — Po 
Adam's retaliation — His wives — Astonishment of the Malays on inspecting the 
force of the Potomac — Interchange of presents — Ceremony of killing a buffalo. 
That nothing should be left undone to leave an indelible im- 
pression on the minds of these people, of the power of the United 
States to inflict punishment for aggressions committed on her 
commerce, in seas however distant, the ship was got under way 
the following morning, and brought to,- with a spring on her cable, 
within less than a mile of the shore, when the larboard side was 
brought to bear nearly upon the site of the town. 
The object of the conamodore, in this movement, was not to 
open an -indiscriminate or destructive fire upon the town and in- 
habitants of Quallah-Battoo, but to show them the irresistible 
power of thirty-two pound shot, and to reduce the fort of Tuca 
de Lama, which could not be reached on account of the jungle 
and stream of water, on the morning before ; and from which a 
fire had been opened and continued during the embar cation of the 
men into their boats, on their return to the ship. 
The policy of this measure cannot be too highly appreciated, 
when it is remembered that these people, while practising their 
piracies, or watching every favotixable opportunity to capture ships 
trading with them, were frequently told by our captains that out- 
breakings or violence on their part would most assuredly cause 
the government of America to send out an adequate force to pun- 
ish them ; and that there was always a disposable one, ready to 
perform such service. At this idea they always tossed their heads 
in a contemptuous manner, exclaiming with a loud laugh, " Ameri- 
