OUTRAGE OF THE MALAYS. 503 
ness of the wind, did not reach Cluala Batoo m season to 
effect any thing that day, but on the morning of the 9th a 
Malay was sent on shore to demand the ship of the Rajah, 
accompanied with the threat, that if the Malays did not im- 
mediately desert her, we should fire upon them and the town. 
The Rajah, however, positively refused to give her up, and 
sent word we might take her if we could. The three vessels 
then commenced firing upon the ship and the boats which 
were passing with plunder, and were answered by the forts 
on shore, and the Malays also firing the ship's guns at us. In 
their attempts to get her on shore she had become entangled 
among a large cluster of shoals, which rendered it extremely 
dangerous for either of the vessels to attempt to lay her along- 
side. The Malays, however, after blowing themselves up with 
an open keg of powder, out of which they were loading the 
guns, soon ceased firing on board the ship ; when a boat from 
each vessel was despatched to board her, under cover of the 
guns from the vessels, and which we did without opposition, 
the Malays deserting her on the approach of the boats. 
" We subsequently learnt that the pepper boat exchanged 
her crew of fishermen at the river's mouth for a set of opium 
smokers, rendered desperate by their habits, and to these Avere 
added also men of the same class taken from the ferry-boat; 
that when she came alongside not one of them was recog- 
nized by the ship's company as having been ofi'to her before ; 
they were all, however, indiscriminately permitted to go on 
board ; and the attack was commenced simultaneously at dif 
ferent parts of the ship, by some concerted signal ; and three 
or four men, with the first officer, were instantly krissed, and 
the crew being taken by surprise, and unprepared, the ship fell 
an easy prey to them." 
Immediately on learning this outrage. Government despatch- 
ed the frigate Potomac, Captain Dov^rnes, to obtain full redress 
for the attack on the Friendship. The frigate arrived on the 
coast of Sumatra in February, 1832, and anchored off Gluala 
Batoo on the 5th of that month. Ineffectual attempts were made 
on that day to open an intercourse with the natives. Prepara- 
tions were accordingly made for an attack, which took place 
at early dawn on the 6th. The forts of the enemy were soon 
carried, and their force dispersed. After having thus inflicted 
on them such vengeance as their piracy deserved, the frigate 
took its leave. Their punishment has doubtless impressed them 
with a salutary respect for American power and decision. 
M •? ^ t h 
