THE INDIAN - ARCHIPELAGO. 
585 
tical, until the two european settlements in the midst of it, the Dutch 
at Rhio, and the English at Singapore, led to a change in the habits 
of the rulers, and also of the people to a considerable degree, al¬ 
though it was not until recent times that some of the most noted 
strongholds in the immediate vicinity of the European settlements 
such as Galang were broken up. Even yet there are scattered 
here and there both on the mainland of Johore, and amongst the 
islands which formed part of the ancient empire, small piratical 
communities which carry on a very annoying warfare against the 
small trading prahus which cover the seas in the neighbourhood 
of the European marts, especially of Singapore. 
In 1818, we find in a report of Muntinghe, commissioner at 
Palembang and at Banka, numerous details regarding the piracies 
carried on by the inhabitants of Linga, Rhio, and Biliton, all parts 
of the Johore Archipelago, the east coast of Sumatra, Carumatu 
and the west coast of Borneo. The piratical forces of Linga were 
under the command of subaltern chiefs of the Sultan of Linga, one 
fleet commanded by two brothers styled Orang Kaya Linga, 
consisting of 18 vessels and 400 men, and which had three points of 
rendezvous, Sakanah, Barok and Banachoong and the other under 
the command of IJngko Tamonggong, consisting of 48 vessels and 
about 1,200 men, which had seven places of rendezvous, Galang, 
Timian, Pulo Bocaya, Salat Singapura, (the Strait of Singapore) 
Sughi, Pakako and Bollang. These chiefs did not go upon the 
cruise themselves but fitted out tlie expeditions, furnishing the 
necessary provisions, stores and arms, ancl received repayment after 
a successful cruise with a profit of 100 per cent. The European 
arms became the prize of the Sultan, who could also select such 
other part of the spoil as he chose at a low price. These 
pirates every year undertook a regular voyage, of which the route 
was well known, and so calculated that they should always have 
the advantage of fair winds and currents. They set out towards 
the close of the western monsoon, or even during the months of 
December or January, and directing their course by the Straits of 
Sunda, towards the southern coast of Java, bore up at the com¬ 
mencement of the east monsoon. They then passed through one 
of the Straits to the east of Java, and ran along the eastern and 
northern coast of Java, which they infested till the commencement 
of May, when regaining the offing of their first route, they took 
the road to their coverts pillaging in passing the shores of Banca 
and Palembang. If they made an important prize they returned 
at once, but if as often happened, their voyage was unfruitful, they 
continued to infest these coasts until the close of the east monsoon, 
when they invariably regained their lairs, with or without booty. 
This they sold to the Chinese and other traders who came to 
Linga at a handsome profit. When prevented from proceeding 
on their piratical cruises, the pirates betook themselves to fishing 
for agar agar and tripang, a means of livelihood still followed by 
