The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-05-06
The IndInn ArchIpeIago.


Amongst the numerous industrious
races inhhbiting the Twelve Thousand
Islands Of the Indian Archipelago some
twenty-five years ago, there were whole
tribes devoted TO the exciting pursuit Of
piracy. 1t must not be supposed that
they constituted handful Of men, whose
haunt WINS some secluded or unknown
isle, whence they issued occasionally on
a pirntical expedition, but vast and or
ganized body, who boldly put forth to
sea at certain periods of the year in large
boats, well manned and armed, and with
cruel determination, spread like n 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. Incapl-
bic Of fear, they scorned to envelope their
movements in secrecy, but 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 yells Of defiance,
they bore down upon the richly-laden
ship, surrounded her, m0ssacred the
crew, and after rifing her Of her stores,
sank or left her drifting tenantless upon
the sea. SometmeSltho pirate fleet, with
IS swift, noiseless boats, stole stealthily
down through the trre-shadowed waters
Of the narrow chnpnels, 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 clns-
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 ut their play
makes a 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 rs the eye can reach nm IN.
dulating surface Of jungle stretches inter
minably away in the background. Scarce
| ~ has the serenity OF sleep stolen upon
tho spot, when the waters around the
shore are disturbed by the movement of
many keels, that cut the waves and pro-
duce ripping murmur, unheard, save
by the cruel marnuders intent upon their
prey. A hundre lrisses are unshenthed
as they set their foot on shore, and a
loud yell Of triumph bursts from their
lips, rs they find themselves secure upon
the village platform. In hopeless fear,
the wretchod victims fly to arms-the
cry OF despair from the mother, who, in
dying, perceives her little one borne away
fnOm her arms-the shrek of the maiden
struggling with her captor all mingle
confusedly with the groans Of the dying,
and the loud yells Of tine pirates, who,
kriising the aged, carry away into hope
less captivity the maiden and the child,
As Inst act, burning bmnd is applied
TO the frail tenement, and soon mass
OF forked flames rise into the air, while
the buccaneering fleet again puts to sea,
and steer away before any alarm is given
to the surrounding country. The morn.
ing sun rises upon heap Of black and
smoking ruins.
Such scenes were OF frequent occur.
renee in the Indian Archipelago twenty.
five years ago. The burning Of Villages,
the massacre OF women and children were
the constant practices Of the freebooters,
who dwclt not on some obscure island.
but whose homes were scattered far aud
wide over the Archipelago. No one
coming abruptly upon the rude. builtand
strong villages inhabited by these men
could for one moment imngine the in.
habitants to be the same who, at certain
periods Of the year, secured the seas on
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
wore found scattered in their dwellings,
standing sometimes on perches raised
70 ty feet above the ground. Their wives
and families were decked with every saw
age ornament; and while they remained
at home, the freebooters appeared to
forget the daring exploits of the sea, in
the peaceful enjoyment Of domestic COM
forts. The life Of these pirates, il inves.
tigated, would be found to be one Of sin
gular romance and variety but that Of
the less ierocious sea gipsics, skimming
by day with their white-sailed prnhus,
over the ocean, and clustering by night
near the shore, possess in the highest
degree the attributes Of romance. It is
satisfaction to know, however, that
since the period OF which We have been
speaking, Sir James Brooke and his as.
sociates have swept the seas Of these vast
buccaneering hordes, and have put stop
to the inhuman barbarities which were
formerly Of such frequent occurrence.