The Sun.
London, England, 1852-05-19 00:00:00

THE SUN,

Dresden, and it was heard a few days back. M.
Kuhne was acquitted, but condemned to the costs.

BORNEO.
ATTACK ON THE SULOO PIRATES.-LCSS OF

LIFE.
The expedition, consisting of her Majesty's ship
Cleopatra, the steam-frigate Semiramis, and the war-
steamer Plato—the latter two vessels belonging to the
East India Company—returned to Singapore after an
unsuccessful endeavour to meet with and punish the
Saloo pirates on the east coast of Borneo, who were con-
cerned in cutting off the schooner Dolphin, and the mur-
der of Mr. Burns and his companions. Much discussion
has of late taken place on the subject of piracy in the
Archipelago, and who are and who are not pirates; but
of the character of the men againet evhom the expedi-
tionof her Majestra ship under Captain-Massie,
Cleo-
patra, was sent, there is not the least doubt entertained.
The head-qaarters of the Solon, Lanun, and Manua,
piratical prahus, which scour the Indian Archipelago,
has frequently been pointed out from the days of
Dalrymple to the present, but it was not until the re-
cent outrage on Mr. Barns that the English authori-
tiesadopted a single step to punish the pirates ia their
strongholds, and on the present occasion they have been
completely unsuccessful. The following particulars will
show what manner of people these marauders are :
Having coaled both steamers at Labuan, the expedition
sailed for Maluda, the Cleopatra a short time in advance.
Mr. St. John, acting commissioner, and Captain Brooke,
better known as the Rajah Made of Sarawak, were on
board the Cleopatra. Captain Massie's oats pro-
ceeded up the Menggetal river to the house of
a chief who was known to be in league with a
party of Lanun pirates, but nothing was done, the
object being merely a demonstration. At Maluda in-
formation was received of the murder of Mr. Wind-
ham, at Suloo, by the chief minister of the Sultan,
but on inquiry at Singapore the report turned out
to be untrue, Mr. Windham being at Mainla at the
time. After much difficulty the Cleopatra was taken
through the Malawalli passage, and at length reached
Tangku, the principal head-quarters of the Saloo
pirates. The steamer's boats tried river after river be-
fore reaching the ono they were in search of. Having
anchored below the river, an expedition was formed or
sixteen boats in two divisions, the light boats bjog
under the direction of Captain Barback of the Pluto,
and the heavy boats under Captain Stephens of the Se-
miramis. Captain Massie, accompanied by the Acting
Commissioner, proceeded in the Cleopatre's gig. White
fins were hoisted in most of the boats, and after two
hours' pulling they reached the chief's house, and on
the•tcp of the room they placed a white flag in token of
a peaceful visit, and to induce the inhabitants to approach;
not one, however, appeared, they having fled before the
boats reached the place. Whilst they were meditating
on the step next to be taken, they were suddenly saluted
with a shower of balls, or rather shots, issuing from the
jangle, killing one of our men and wounding two others.
Having Cline shown a hostile disposition, Captain Massie
immediately directed preparations to be made for acting
on the offensive. A smart fire was returned from the
marines, firing in the direction whence the smeko was
observed, but without any effect. The boats then re-
turned to the shipping. Oa the 17th the pro-
ceeded to the plan; with the view of inflicting a severe
punishment for firing upon the flag of trace. The small
arms men were placed on one side of the river, and the
merinos on the other. The stoakades were reached,
but the guns bed been removed. Scouring par-
ties went in all directions, but not a man was
visible. Some of the pirates, however, advanced
stealthily through the jungle to the stockades,
and fired, and a party of them fired on the
boats, wounding three men, one mortally. Yet
not a soul was observable. Whenever smoke was seen
to issue from the jungle the place was immediately in-
vested, but the daring, adventurous Lames managed to
escape. Finding this mode of warfare very discourag•
ing, orders were given to destroy all the buildings, m ide
of bamboo and cadjan, and soon replaced, together with-
large granaries of rice, which being accomplished the
flotilla returned with the loss of several men killed and
wounded, without the satisfaction of knowing they had
even wounded a single Lanun. From the absence of
their prahus it is believed the pirates were absent on a
piratical expedition, but it is equally probable that their
pre us and themselves were concealed up some of the
numerous and to us unknown rivers abounding in that
quarter.