The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1882-06-17
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THE GREAT HERO Of the MALAYS.
A ROMANCE.
By WALTER MURRAY GIBSON.
A ROMANCE.
CHAPTER VII.

Ddc5Eu EuEDuRU LsC SlEdll5 VI All4dIEds a84 AOlS
ing a portion of the China Sea. arrived of the
coast of BOrneo, at a point known TO the chief of
the heet as being near the mouth OF the river
Pontianak, upon which was situated a small
town of the same name, noted for Its wealth IN
gold and diamonds.
The war canoes held of the coast during day
light, so as not to be observed by the people of
POntianak but as soon as night set in they stood
close 10 shore. Laksamana deserted, before dark
ness had fully shut in the land, three large trad
ing prahus at anchor. He listened to the clarg
Of a gong, and to the loud resonant beat of a
Malay drum. which he knew was a call of the
people of the place to an assemblage for religious
purposes. He waited some time until all sounds
from the shore had ceased, and all lights were
extinguished. Then Laksamana stripped him
self, and, having fastened to his neck a heavy,
sharp knife. also a steel and finder with which to
strike a light, wrapped in a piece of cloth, he let
himself down in the water and swan ashore,
landing at a point where dense shrubbery grew
close to the waters edge. lie observed from this
cover many points of the town, and many people
moving to and fro. He waited awhile till all was
still, and then moved s~tealthily forth. being aided
In his movements by the faint light Of a new
moon and he moved around 10 n crouchlng
attitude, to spy out the condition and extent of
the little town.
L~aksamana was now like a wolf p~rowling
around a sheep pen, in order to kill and devour.
He had gone forth on this expedition to rob and
destroy, as a pirate. In MS uays all Aldlay chitlS
took part occasionally in p~iratical exI editions :;
and. Notwithstanding the general advance in en-
lightenment of the people MALAYSIA. and the IN
crease OF power Of great Governments in the great
Malay Archipelago, yet at this day many Malay
chiefs Of the Island of Sumatra, and of other
Malay Islands. send forth one or more piratIcal
war vessels full of warriors to rob great ships
and they have of late years succeeded in captur-
ing English. Dutch, and other European ships.
The ancient and modern, both Pagan and Maho-
medan, have regarded such enterprises as noble
and honorable. Laksamana, however, was not
moved by any feeling of the honor of warlike
enterprise 20 undertake this expedition, but solely
by a grand sentiment Of love. 1t was his mighty
love for the Princess Umba that prompted him
to go forth to rob. and perhaps STAY his fellow
men. He knew nothing OF a spirit which would
have taught him to regard the rights of his fellow
beings. but was animated by the virtues of his
time-to have courage to fight men, and devotion
to the love of a woman. He cared not for gold
and diamonds he hardly understood their value.
He would not fight a man in order to get these
things. But he would sight a man, or any mum
Der of men, for the sake of the possession OF
Umba, the woman he loved above all others and
because King SapidiaR her father. whose authority
he reverenced. had ordered him to procure slaves,
and gold and diamonds, as the price of his wife,
he would try to get them-even it he had TO
slaughter multitudes Of men in doing so. And
had King SapidIn commanded him-even as
LaDan commanded JacOD-tO wOrk many years
at the common labor of herdIng animals instead
Of engaging in an expedition of piracy he would
have obeyed in the same spirit.
And now the pirate chief Laksamana prepared
to attack POntianak. He observed the extent OF
the place. the number of houses. and that there
were, perhaps, about one thousand people,
among whom there would be at most about two
hundred men capable of offering any resistance to
him and his band of determined warriors. Our
hero felt that though he only had fifty lighting
men. yet each one was a chief and a true soldier
in spirit and he felt that they would be sufficient
led by him-to capture the town, and destroy
the whole OF the unprepared PEOPLE. if need be.
So Laksamana determined to take the place
by surprise that night. He crept back s~tealthily
to the beach, and swan off to his war canoes.
He ordered all his Sighting men TO strip off all
clothing, except n malO, as he had done, and.
taking each one a kreeSe. or crooked dagger, and
three small spears, or lances, to hurl, and some
material for torches-with t!.rsc things in
hand, to swim ashore. The band Of fishermen
warriors landed, and. after proceeding in order
inland a short distance, Lakasamana halted them
at the outskirt Of the town.
This town of Pontianak was formed around a
large square, in the centre of which was a small
building that served as a sort Of sentry-house,
near which was suspended an enormous drum,
formed out of huge hollow trunk of a tree, which
when struck, would make a loud booming noise.
A sentinel kept watch in or near this sentry-box.
as was then the ease in all small towns or villages
in Borneo and other Malay islands. to guard
against piratical surprises and when any cause
for alarm was observed, he would strike upon the
drum, making a loud noise and cutlery, and then
all the men OF the town or village. being aroused,
would rush out of their huts or houses into the
centre Of the square to assemble together, in
order to meet and repel the danger.
LaksaDana, leaving his men, entered this
square alone. He crawled on ~all-fours, and, in
the partial otscurity of the night, he would be
mistaken in his slow, stealthy approach, for a
huge dog or other beast providing around for
waits Of food. As the chief advanced, he espied
the sentinel leaning against n wall, and evidently
asleep. He approached near, and sprang upon
him like a tiger, and g~rasping his throat with
one hand to prevent any cutlery, he with the
other hand struck his dagger to the heart of the
man, so that he sunk down dead, without a
groan.
And now the fierce nature Of Laksamana was
aroused by blood. He was now a relentless
savage, and was eager to lead his men on to
slaughter. lie joined his band, and ordered forty
Of them, in squads of FIVE. to proceed s~tealthily
to different points Mt the back of the houses, on
the outside OF the squaTe-each one of these mcr
having in his hands, besides his weapons, n piece
of resinous wood that would flame up when lit
and a piece Of punk, or rotten wood, that had
been ignited during their halt in the grove.
which, when blowed upon, would produce q
fame to kindle the resinOus torch. And the
chief, with the remaining ten of his band, wen
to the watch-house in the centre of the square
and when he knew that his forty warriors hac
had time to be properly posted. he struck fercely
upon the great drum, and made fearful cutlery.
The men of Pontianak reused up from theil
slumber on their mats, rushed out of doors, anC
ran towards the watch-hOuse to find out the cause
of alarm but as they approached the place Il
meet their faithful sentinel. they we're terrified
By fierce cries of errible-looking naked men
dimlv seen in the night, who rushed upon til,
villagers and struck down with lances, or stabhet
them with the kreeses, as. in their fear. the.
crowded and huddled together. And when i
their terror they turned to rush back to ihei
houses. they were Mortified at the sight Of fame
rising from their thatch roofs, and by hearing
the agonized cries of their women and children.
These fifty human wolves, who rushed on tn
people. crying " Awok! awok '-(Kill ! kill!
completely terrified and subdued the poor me
Of Pontianak, although they were more than tie
times the number of their invading enemy. Tn
=. - lie mo n ~ a