Page:Journal Of The Indian Archipelago And Eastern Asia Series.i, Vol.3 (IA in.ernet.dli.2015.107696).pdf/349

 SIR JAMES BROOKE'S EXPEDITION AGAINST THE SAREBAS PIRATES.

ON a former occasion I forwarded to you a list of the native flotilla, which was ready to put to sea with Sir James Brooke in his recent expedition against the pirates of Sa- rebas.

The expedition set out on the 25th March, and visited every river between Sarawak and Sarebas, in hopes of find- ing the enemy, but without success. In the course of a few days the flotilla was joined by prahus from various rivers on the coast, which I did not formerly reckon, but which were as follows, in addition to my former list:

This formidable flotilla was led by four boats of the H. C. Steamer Nemesis, under the orders of Mr Goodwin, and whilst the gallant commander Captain Wallage with his Steamer guarded the Sarebas river, the expedition entered the Kaluka, and at once ascended both the right and left hand branches of Lipat and Sussang. At the former place the Malays were found trading with the pirates, and having been advised to be cautious in future, became guides to the interior of the Rembas branch of the Sarebas river.

At the distance of about 60 ruiles, up the Lipat from the sea, a force of about 2,000 men was landed, and was absent for three days, during which time it captured several places, and destroyed large stores of rice and salt. This land force was so slightly opposed, that it was conjectured that the men were mostly absent, either to defend the fortified po- sition of Truh on the Rembas, or preparing to attack some other place. The latter conjecture was found to be correct.