592 
DESTRUCTION OF THE PIRATE FLEET. 
of the Nemesis, and the officers engaged on the expedition, to the 
seamen and marines, for alike all did their duty with zeal and 
with cheerfulness. The news received from Sarawak when the 
boats were up the Rejang will further illustrate the system of 
piracy which has been allowed to grow up on the coast ot Borneo. 
It appears that previous to the expedition from Sarawak proceeding 
to Sarebas five piratical prahus had passed towards Sambas and 
Sirhassan. On their return on the morning of the 7th of August 
these boats attacked the houses at the Moratabas entrance of Sara¬ 
wak, and, though repulsed, subsequently captured 'a trading praliu 
and killed twelve men. They had before taken an island prahu, 
and killed some Chinese off the entrance of the Sambas river, but 
the exact amount of mischief done by them has not yet been 
ascertained. It is very certain that unless the vigorous measures 
at present pursued by Sir James Brooke are consistently carried 
out, the pirates of Sarebas and Sakarran _ will yearly increase 
in audacity—every peaceful trading community will be cut oft or 
forced to join them, and when they become possessed of musketry, 
Singapore itself will suffer directly from their ravages, and blood 
and treasure will be expended to effect what may now be effected 
with comparative ease. Let us look to it well or we may pay a 
heavier penalty as the price of neglect and doubt, than we at present 
dream of! . 
As it has before been said, it is very difficult to estimate the loss 
of the pirates during these proceedings, but it is satisfactory that 
no Englishman has lost his life from the enemy, and only four 
natives in personal encounters. It is gratifying to add likewise 
that women and children have been respected, and that the Malays, 
and even the Dyaks have shewn a great willingness to introduce 
a humane system of warfare, and in this as on many other points 
to imitate the customs of their European brethren. On the 23rd 
of August the expedition once more anchored at the entrance ot 
the Rejang, and on the 24th the Nemesis entered the Moratabas. 
29 th August , 1849. 
. p. S. It has since been reported, but is not certain, that the 
pirates have suffered more severely than stated in this account and 
that the five prahus returning from Sambas were attacked by t.ie 
Linga people and three captured. 
Both these reports are probable but want confirmation. 
It is hardly necessary to add to the above account, that the 
Expedition was accompanied by Sir James Brooke. We most 
earnestly hope that this great blow which has been struck at 
one of the communities of robbers and murderers whose fleets 
and vessels infest the seas of the Archipelago, will be followed 
