National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1872-05-03
The Indian Archipelago.

Amongst the numerous industriou
races inhabiting the Twelve Thousan'
Islands Of the Indian Archipelago som'
twenty-five years aga, there were who'll
tribes devoted TO the exciting pursuit o
piiNcy. II must not ho supposed tina
they constituted handful OF men, whost
haunt was some secluded or unknown
isle, whence they issued occasionally OF
piratical expedition, but II vast and or
ganized body, who boldly put forth tC
sea at certain periods of the year in larg,
boats, well manned aud armed, aud will
cruel determination, spread like Il vast
web through the intricate channels Of the
Eastern Seas TO attack and plumber every
vessel that came within their reach. Not
satisfied with cruising in the immediate
vicinity of their haunts, they set sail on
long voyages during several months in
/ the year, after which they returned laden
with rich stores to their homes. mcapa-
BILE of fear, they scorned to envelope their
movements in secrecy, hut in the face OF
day lay in the open sea in wait for the
| first trading vessel, no matter to what
nation she belonged, when, sometimes to
the sound OF music and wells of defiance,
they bore down upon the richly-laden
ship, surrounded her, massacred the
crew, and after riding her of her stores,
sank or left her drifting tenantless upon
the sea. Somctlmos!the pirate fleet, with
IS swift, noisclcss boats, stole stealthily
down through the tree-shadowed waters
OF the narrow channels, and beneath the
shelter of the Jungle rested its oars until
the dead of night A peaceful village
had been seen in the evening light clus-
tering upon the beach ON its raised plat
forms The labor of the day is over, the
song Of the Dyak maiden floats on the
air, the voice Of children at their play
makes low murmur, the father leans
from the long balcony running across the
front Of the little community Of houses :;
groups are busy here and there. Early
they retire TO rest, and perfect silence
broods over the scene. The bright moon
beams play upon the waves, dotted with
isles rs far as the eye can reach an un-
dulating surface of jungle stretches inter-
minably away in the background. Scarce
ly has the serenity of sleep stolen upon
the spot, when the waters around the
shore are disturbed by the movement of
many kees, that cut the waves and pro-
duce a ripping murmur, unheard, save
by the cruel marauders intent upon their
prey. A hundre krisses are unsheathed
rs they set their foot on shore, and
loud yell of triumph bursts from their
lips, as they find themselves secure upon
the village platform. In hopeless fear,
the wretched victims fly to arms-the
cry of despair from the mother, who, in
dying, perceives her little one borne away
from her arms-the shrek of the maiden
struggling with her captor all mingle
confusedly with the Proans of the dying,
and the loud yelis of the pirates, who,
krlising the aged, carry away into hope
less captivity the maiden and the child.
As last act, a burning brand is applied
to the frail tenement md soon a mass
of forNed fumes rise into the air while
The buccaneeriDg fleet again puts to sea,
aud steer away before any alarm is given
to the surrounding country. The morn
ing sun rises upon n heap of black and
smoking ruins.
Such scenes were of frequent occur
renee in thc Indian Archipelago twenty
five years ago. The burning of villages.
the massacre Of women and children were
the constant practices of the freebooters,
who dwelt not on some obscure island.
but whose homes were scattered far and
wide over the Archipelago. No one
coming abruptly upon the rude built and
strong villages inhabited Ivy these men
could for one moment imagine the in
habitants to be the same who, at certain
,1at,iT ,Ic IF A. 40 1,
expeditions OF depreciation and murder
The utmost taste presided over the dis
position of their gardens and houses |
the height OF rude luxury was displayed, |
and many Of the productions of Europe |
were found scattered in their dwellings,, |
sometimes on perches raised |
70 ty feet above the ground Their wives
and families We're deckcd with every saw
age ornament; and while they remained !
at home, the treebooters appeared to !
forget the daring exploits of the sea, in
the peaceful enjoyment OF domestic COM
forts. The life of these pirates, if inves-
-iGated. would be found 20 be one Of sin
3ular romance and variety ; but that of
The less ferocious sea gipsies, sbimming
~ day with their white-sailed prahus,
over the ocean, and clustering by night
near the shore, possess in the highest
iegree the attributes of romance. 1t is
| satisfaction to know, however, that
since the period of which we have been
,pealling, Sir James Brooke and his as
'ociates have swept the seas OF these vast
hordes, end have put stop
o the inhuman barbarities which were
ormerly of such frequent occurrence.