SHIPWRECK. 
269 
covered and commanded by a precipitous rock. The party could 
only reach the summit of this by crossing from a lower rock by the 
trunk of a tree, which they used as a draw-bridge, and could throw 
down at a moment’s warning. It was constantly occupied by a 
picquet, and from its inaccessibility was called the Gibraltar rock. 
It communicated with the hill by an irregular avenue cut through 
the wood. 
Very early in the morning of the second of March twenty- 
nine prows anchored between the two landing-places, and imme- 
diately began to load their swivels and to erect platforms on their 
decks. No doubt being entertained that they meditated an imme- 
diate attack, every preparation was made to receive them. The party 
was mustered under arms, and double guards were placed at the 
landing-places. 
In the evening the same rajah, who had before visited the Cap- 
tain, came on shore. He still insisted on his friendly views, but 
accused a part of his companions, to whose prows he pointed, with 
the intention of attacking the party that night, rendering at the 
same time his own professions suspicious, by requesting that two of 
his people might sleep on the hill ; a request that was of course re- 
fused. His probable object in making it was to ascertain the exact 
force of the party, of which the Malays had been kept in ignorance, 
and no doubt believed to be greater than it was. To produce this 
impression, whenever a conference with the pirates took place, 
Captain Maxwell so disposed his men, that whilst the usual picquets 
were visible to the prows, their ambassadors saw people moving 
about them in every direction, some peeping from behind rocks, 
and others appearing in different parts of the wood, whilst a body 
of officers surrounded themselves. 
Having dismissed the rajah, Captain Maxwell mustered his force, 
and ascertained accurately the extent of his means of defence. The 
party, including servants, consisted of one hundred and ninety men, of 
whom forty-two were armed with muskets, forty with boarding-pikes* 
