589 
DESTRUCTION OF THE FLEET OF THE SAREBAS AND SAKARRAN 
PIRATES BY THE EXPEDITION FROM SARAWAK ON THE 
NIGHT OF 31ST JULY 1849. 
On Wednesday July 25th the Steamer Nemesis with the boats 
of the Albatross and Royalist in tow left the river followed by the 
Sarawak flotilla. On the 27th the Steamer and boats rendezvoused 
at Kaluka, and on the 28th the Nemesis being somewhat short of 
fuel returned to the mouth of the Sarebas to collect wood. Certain 
information was received in the evening that a large pirate fleet 
had left Sarebas early on the morning of the 26th and it was con¬ 
jectured that the capture of the peaceful town of Sariki was the 
object of the expedition. A strong detachment of boats was in¬ 
stantly despatched by Captain Farquhar to prevent this fleet 
escaping on their return by the Kaluka river, whilst the Steamer, 
the men of war’s boats and some native prahus guarded the 
Sarebas. 
This position was maintained for three days whilst scout boats 
were sent out to give timely notice of the approach of the pirate 
fleet. The patience of every one was severely tried by the delay 
which occured, but on the evening of the 30th intelligence was 
received, that the pirates after partially plundering Palo, and 
threatening the inhabitants with certain death, unless they supplied 
them with salt, retired to a river called Si Maring where it was still 
conjectured they were plotting an attack on Siriki. 
The Palo people fled the same night to Rejang, and reported 
that all the powerful chiefs of Sarebas were out, and that they had 
counted 107 war prahus. This news revived the spirits of the 
waiting expedition, and on the evening of the 31st at | past 6, the 
scout boats in all haste brought intelligence of the approach of the 
pirate Bala. 
Every preparation was instantly made and the Kaluka detach¬ 
ment moved to the entrance of that river, and discovered the 
pirates in great force passing at very long gunshot distance. Lieuts 
Everest and Wilmshurst advanced in the cutters, and opened a 
fire upon a portion of the pirate fleet which was fully returned. 
The main body however pulled close in shore in shallow water to 
the entrance of the Sarebas, and appeared, on seeing the effective 
preparations for their reception, to hesitate as to their future course 
of action, for some delay took place. This hesitation over, they 
rushed at the Eastern Point of the river with the intention of forcing 
their way up the Sarebas in water too shallow for the men of war 
boats. They were however met by the native force at the sandy 
point, and after a brief resistance, seized with a complete panic, 
the bala divided, some escaping a shore, some putting out to sea, 
and some crossing the river by a long detour. It was a bright 
moon-light night and now commenced a series of small independ 
