OF THE INDIAN' ARCHIPELAGO. 632 
1824.—During this year the pirates were very troublesome on the 
coast of Java, another brig having fallen into their hands, white 
they harassed the trading prahus incessantly, cutting them off and 
murdering or making slaves of the crews. They also exercised their 
profession in the immediate vicinity of Singapore, and it is believed 
that they might often be found in the harbour under the guise of 
trading prahus, the times having changed since Singapore was a 
favorite rendezvous of the Johore and other pirates where they 
could show themselves openly. Only 14 years previously, the 
boats of the British man-of-war Greyhound, cut out and recaptured 
from one of the most secure spots in the present, harbour of Singa¬ 
pore, an European vessel which had been taken by the pirates. 
A small Spanish squadron this year was despatched from Manila 
which inflicted considerable damage on the pirates in the Sulu sea, 
destroying their fortified places, and carrying away the brass guns 
and other property which they found in them. 
Two French vessels from Bourbon visited Bali for the purpose 
of purchasing slaves. They carried away several hundreds of 
persons, male, and female, young people being taken in preference 
to adults. 
In March this year, a treaty was concluded at London between 
the British and Dutch governments, by an article of which both 
powers bound themselves to assist in suppressing piracy. 
Towards the end of 1824 and beginning of 1825 several trans¬ 
ports with troops for the expedition on Celebes left Java for Macassar. 
Amongst these was the Fathal Barie, an ; English ship, which had 
on board a detachment of 225 soldiers under the command of Major 
Gey. Some days after leaving Surabaya they saw two native 
vessels steering in the same direction as themselves, and which 
began to take in sail as if to wait for the transport. They were 
thought to be pirates and Major Gey immediately took means to 
surprise them. Arms were furnished to the soldiers, the guns 
loaded and the men kept out of sight. The two pirates kept 
together and appeared as if preparing to board. When they came 
within range, the four guns were discharged and the troops shewing 
themselves opened a brisk fire of musketry. The two commanders 
of the prahus were then ordered to come on board with their 
passes. After hesitating for some instants, during which the 
pirates could be seen throwing several pieces of ordnance over 
board as secretly as possible, they obeyed the summons. The 
false passes which they carried and the guns which were still on 
board, although they endeavored to cover them from sight by 
sails, sufficiently proved that their character had not been mistaken. 
The troops received orders to hold themselves ready to recom¬ 
mence firing, and the gunners placed themselves with lighted 
matches beside their guns. Major Gey then sent a sub-officer 
with a strong force in a boat to bring part of the pirate crews on 
board the Fathal Baric, at the,same time warning the pirates that 
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