The Sun. — 1852-05-19 (London, England)

BORNEO. ATTACK ON THE SULOO PIRATES.-LCSS OF  LIFE. The expedition, consisting of her Majesty's ship Cleopatra, the steam-frigate Semiramis, and the warsteamer 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 concerned in cutting off the schooner Dolphin, and the murder 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 expeditionof her Majestra ship under Captain-Massie, Cleopatra, 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 recent outrage on Mr. Barns that the English authoritiesadopted 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 proceeded 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 information was received of the murder of Mr. Windham, 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 before 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 Semiramis. 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 returned to the shipping. Oa the 17th the proceeded 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 parties 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 invested, 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 withlarge 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.