In Nov. 1827, a principal chief of pirates, named Sindana, made a descent upon Mamoodgoo with forty-five proas, burnt three-fourths of the campong, driving the rajah with his family among the mountains.  Some scores of men were killed, and 300 made prisoners, besides women and children to half that amount.  In December following, when I was there, the people were slowly returning from the hills, but had not yet attempted to rebuild the campong, which lay in ashes.  During my stay here (ten weeks) the place was visited by two other piratical chiefs, one of which was from Kylie, the other from Mandhaar Point under Bem Bowan, who appeared to have charge of the whole; between them they had 134 proas of all sizes.

Among the most desperate and successful pirates of the present day, Raga is most distinguished.  He is dreaded by people of all denominations, and universally known as the “prince of pirates.”  For more than seventeen years this man has carried on a system of piracy to an extent never before known; his expeditions and enterprises would fill a large volume.  They have invariably been marked with singular cunning and intelligence, barbarity, and reckless inattention to the shedding of human blood.  He has emissaries every where, and has intelligence of the best description.  It was about the year 1813 Raga commenced operations on a large scale.  In that year he cut off three English vessels, killing the captains with his own hands.  So extensive were his depredations about that time that a proclamation was issued from Batavia, declaring the east coast of Borneo to be under strict blockade.  Two British sloops of war scoured the coast.  One of which, the Elk, Capt.  Reynolds, was attacked during the night by Raga’s own proa, who unfortunately was not on board at the time.  This proa which Raga personally commanded, and the loss of which he frequently laments, carried eight guns and was full of his best men.

[Illustration:  A Piratical Proa in Full Chase.]

An European vessel was faintly descried about three o’clock one foggy morning; the rain fell in torrents; the time and weather were favorable circumstances for a surprise, and the commander determined to distinguish himself in the absence of the Rajah Raga, gave directions to close, fire the guns and board.  He was the more confident of success, as the European vessel was observed to keep away out of the proper course on approaching her.  On getting within about an hundred fathoms of the Elk they fired their broadside, gave a loud shout, and with their long oars pulled towards their prey.  The sound of a drum beating to quarters no sooner struck the ear of the astonished Malays than they endeavored to get away:  it was too late; the ports were opened, and a broadside, accompanied with three British cheers, gave sure indications of their fate.  The captain hailed the Elk, and would fain persuade him it was a mistake.  It was indeed a mistake, and one not to be rectified by