The Sun.
London, England, 1853-04-11 00:00:00

THE PIRATES OP BORNEO.

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th oas followingvuthave
suspension
eriski
broken
nn
peaceably extractouoftafafresh,
supporte sf
hro, ma
disposednoad
portion
ththate Sarawak letter, it
nesnsybiltbtowyenn approved by the government, and were will be seen that the Sakarran Dyaks, encouraged by
apoafr tt
younghe of
Eng-
lishcothmi
gentleman named Lee, has fallen. To understand
extract properly, it must be borne in mind that these
were erected by Sir. James Brooke, after the mea-
sures led to the destruction of the pirate fleet of
s
and Sakarran by Captain Farquhar, in 1849,
in-
intendedhfsStmctouhhartureeued by Sir James as the best and most humane
mode of checking piracy, by preventing the exit from
their rivers of the piratically disposed Dyaks in their
bankongs or war proas ; and he trusted that, by en-
forcing this rule for a few years, the people would be
gradually weaned from their evil habits. This for a
time was entirely successful, and many of the better
disposed engaged in the peaceful avocations of fishing
and farming. Two young English gentlemen, of the
names of Brereton and Lee, volunteered to take charge
of two of these forts, the one at Sakarran, the other at
Linga ; while a third, on the Rejang, was placed under
Mr. Steele's command. They were all dependent en-
tirely on their own resources, or such as Sir James
Brooke could afford them, and they cheerfully under-
took the risks and privations of such a life, as the pio-
neers of civilisation and good government among a wild
and aboriginal people. A very moderate amount of
support, or the occasional visit of a steamer, would have
enabled them to maintain their position. Such, how-
ever, was not accorded them, and his countrymen have
now to deplore the loss of a gentleman who so early de-
velOped those rarely combined qualities, an invincible
courage with great powers of command. We subjoin
the extract referred to :

"I. shall now attempt to give you some of the par-
ticulars of a most unfortunate occurrence that has be-
fallen us. Rentab had for several months past been
collecting a ballah and taunting Brereton. About a
fortnight ago he sent word to Gasim and Lingi, and
the others who had been friendly with Brereton,
that unless they joined him and forced their way to
sea, he would attack their houses and take all their
property. Brereton, upon this determined to go
up the river and defend their houses. He sent
for Lee and the Balows and the Batang Lapurs, and
collecting as large a force as he could, proceeded to
Bandang's house, which he hastily fortified. Rentab
came down with only two boats, was fired into, and ran
away. Rrereton and Lee rushed to their boats, and,
followed by one other Malay boat, and a few Balows in
sca,mpans, pursued the retreating foe. The boats soon
scattered, and on the leading boat suddenly turning a
sharp point of the river, she was received with a shower
of spears, and four huge bankons lying in wait were
upon her before her crew could get at their guns ; they
fought, however, most gallantly till Lee came up and
took off the attention of two of the enemy. Lee shot
with his gun two men, right and left, but had no time
to reload. Brereton's fire also killed several men, but
his boat was soon swamped alongside the gigantic ban-
kong of Rentab, and he and her crew got to the shore
without a, weapon. Boats, guns, rifles, everything fell'
into the Dyak hands. Whilst this was going on the
Balows, who fought well at first, finding they had no
chance in their small boats, and with 27 of their num-
ber wounded, gave away in all directions. Lee's men,
some killed and many wounded, after vainly urging
their leader to fly, jumped overboard, with the
exception of four, who gallantly stuck to him till
all were wounded. They begged and prayed him to
jump overboard and get ashore. Though desperately
wounded, the gallant fellow fought on, saying he would
never run away, he would die, but never be shamed by
turning, and as his last follower jumped overboard, Lee
was seen to spring sword in hand into Rentab's boat,
where he was soon dispatched, and so we have lost as
gallant and noble an English gentleman as ever stepped.
I think you scarce knew him—he was shy and retired at
first, but on acquaintance he much improved, and has
endeared himself to all by many admirable qualities.
Every one in Sarawak, including Malays, deeply feel
his loss ; he was a great favourite with all—his courage
was Spartan. The news from Kanowit is also unsatis-
factory. Briah Riab got past the fort, with a large.
ballah, and has gone up the Rejang. Kum Nipa has
been trying to get up a combined attack on the fort,
and it is said Pa Lambung, of Sareha,s, is preparing a
tremendous ballah for the same object. I have dis-
patched the Badger, with orders to Steele to take every
precaution, and with supplies of muskets and ammuni-
tion, also strict orders not to quit this fort. I Much fear
Kanowit, Sarebas, and Sakarran will break out this sea-
son ; there are evident signs of it. St. John has asked
for a steamer, but I shall not rely on his getting one—
we must defend ourselves, and thank God, our people
are ready and willing. If the Dyaks should break out
now, the mischief will be terrible, not only to the rapidly
rising trade, but to hundreds of unsuspecting people who
are fishing and farming on the banks of the rivers, al-
most to the sea."

It may be mentioned that Mr. Brereton had arrived
safely at Sarawak.

SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

CITSTOM-HOUSE-APRIL 9.

ENTERED INWARDS.—The James Cruickshank, from
Demerara ; Patriot, Teneriffe ; Pearl, Cadiz ; Urania,
Rouen ; Alliance, Guernsey ; Cossack, do. ; Marys, do. and
Jersey ; Fergus, Demerara ; Princess Royal, Hamburgh ;
Seine, Boulogne ; Rudolph, Lisbon ; Melinka, Buenos
Ayres ; Sandford, Hamburgh ; Trial, Barbadoes ; Panther,
o;itend ; Amiable Pelagic), Caen ; Yoram, Guernsey ;
Udonia, Marans ; Ann and Rosetta, Caen.

ENTERED OUTWARDS FOR LOADING.--The City of Lon-
don,&c. ; Tourlingen, Hamburgh ; Ocean Queen,
for Dunkirk ; Adine, Leer ; Etoile, Rouen ; Mary,
• James Cruickshank, St. Vincent ; Antoinette,
NAnewAv
yerpor,k
Elsinore and St. Petersburgh ; Affeyoine, Constantinople
and Odessa; Ada, Magadore ; City of Boulogne, Bou-
logne ; Fergus, Demerara ; Hercules, Melbourne ; Krem-
lin, Boston • Lady Kennaway, Melbourne; New Orleans,
do. ; Moselle, Rotterdam ; Wilberforce, Hamburgh ; De-
vonshire, Swan RiVer ; Panther, Ostend.
CLEARED OUTWARDS WITH CARGOS-The Thames, for
Hamburgh ; Julius Cnsar, Malaga ; Jessore, Port Philip ;
Anne, Demerara ; Hibernia, Alebourg ; Maria Christina,
Santander, &c. ; Universe, Montreal; Warrior Queen,
do. ; Princess Sophia, Sydney ; Antwerpen, Antwerp ;
Batavier, Rotterdam ; Earl of Auckland, do. ; Margaret
Evans, New York ; Kenilworth, Calcutta ; Soho Havre ;
Albion, Boulogne ; City of London, Dunkirk ; Lord John
Russell, Harlingen ; Elbe, Hamburgh; Diana, Amster-
dam ; Tartar, Algotb Bay.

VESSELS SPOKEN WITH.
Tho Akbar, Mauritius to the Clyde, April 4, lat. 50 N
long. 10 W.
The Devonport, of Liverpool, April 7, off Tuskar.
The Peterel, Liverpool to California, Jan. 27, lat. 57 S.,
long. 66.
The Raymond, Valparaiso to Liverpool, Feb. 5, lat. 47
SS. long. 47 W.
~
Halifax, London to Madras, 12th, lat. 2 N., long.
17 W.
The Jumna, Liverpool to Bombay, same day.
The Arno, London to Valparaiso, 13th, lat. 2 N., long.
18 W.
The Cronkbane, Liverpool to Melbourne, 17th, lat. 2 N.,
long. 18.
The Ocean Wave, Boston to Singapore, March 1, lat. 7
N., long. 25 W.
The Chevalier, Liverpool to New Orleans, Fob. 27, lat.
16 N., long. 38 W.

THE DIGGINGS.—The number of diggers at the various
gold fields may now be estimated at 100,000, and the
average earnings may probably still be calculated at an
ounce per man per week. There has been a slight falling
off in the quantities sent down by escort during the last
month.; but this is partly to be referred to the departure
of diggers to spend their Christmas at their respective
homes. Mount Alexander, Balaarat, and the Ovens
are now being advantageously worked. The asto-
nishing richness of Mount Alexander is evidenced
in the large amounts which it yields, notwith-
standing the immense quantities that have already been
drawn from it. The whole country thereabouts
appears to be more or less auriferous. There are va-
rious
minor spots throughout the territory where gold
has been found by explorers, and in paying quantities.
Some of these cases are kept secret by the discoverers ;
others are known, but the limited extent of the deposits
prevents aby numerous party from engaging them. But
the three fields already mentioned may be considered
the grand centres of gold-digging operations in Victoria.
There cannot be a doubt that the introduction of finer
mechanical processes would be followed by increased
productiveness in the gold fields. The ordinary: hasty
and clumsy process of the digger cannot but leave.alarge
residuum of gold in the auriferous soil.- But machinery
can only be introduced by a company ; and no' company
will ever be effective in its operations bat one that is
composed of associated Miners on the co-operative prin-
eiple.—Melbourne Argus.