TRANSACTIONS AT PULO LEAT. 
263 
As they approached the island, and were struggling with a baffling 
current, eight more Malay boats came round a projecting rock, and 
gave them chase. The Malays were gaining rapidly upon them, 
when two of the Alceste’s boats coming in sight from the landing- 
place, the pirates relinquished the pursuit and made for the wreck. 
On receiving this information Captain Maxwell ordered the drum 
to beat to arms, and all the weapons which had been saved to be 
brought together. On examination they were found to consist of a 
few rusty muskets, some cutlasses, and the officers’ swords. A 
small supply of powder had been procured from the ship, by drawing 
her guns, but of balls there was scarcely a round. Ingenuity quickly 
supplied this deficiency in the means of defence. A large number of 
young, tall, straight and tough trees, which grew around the encamp- 
ment were immediately felled, and formed into pikes of eight feet 
in length, having their points hardened by fire ; whilst all the 
pewter and tin vessels were melted into balls. Measures were then 
taken to guard against surprise. The crown of the hill was sur- 
rounded by a strong bulwark formed of the trunks and branches of 
trees ; and picquets were stationed at the well and at the landing- 
place. The day, consumed on the island in the execution of these 
necessary measures, was spent by the Malays in plundering the wreck 
and landing their booty on a rock in its vicinity. 
Having lighted fires, the party retired to rest under much anxiety; 
well knowing the ferocious disposition of the Malays, whose numbers 
might be readily increased to an overpowering amount. 
During the night an alarm was excited through the whole encamp- 
ment by the challenge of the sentry, who heard something approach- 
ing him through the neighbouring thicket. A search being immedi- 
ately set on foot, the intruder was found to be a large monkey 
attacking some fowls at the foot of the hill. Other animals more 
disgusting and noxious than monkeys infested the ground of 
the encampment : several persons were bitten by scolopendras and 
scorpions. 
Early the next morning two boats, well manned and armed, were 
