The Sun. — 1852-05-18 (London, England)

BORNEO.  ATTACK ON THE SULOO PIRATES.-LOSS OF  LIFE.  The expedition, consisting of her Majesty's ship 8 Cleopatra, e aroc India ner sdpeeaatinvmovitraftrrtiregteorat uttmewr enoeeStdemwtiori vesselsathSm Semiramis, nal aosnnodgrpienut belonging et warsteamer si thecPluto—the eonmsdt after thean Euna:ut Suloo 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 against whom the expedition under Captain Massie, of her Majesty's ship Cleopatra, was sent, there is not the least doubt entertained. The head-quarters of the Suloo, Lanun, and Illanuo, piratical prahus, which scour the Indian Archipelago, has fie quently been pointed out from the days of Dalrymple to the present, but it was not until the recent outrage on Mr. Burns that the English authorities adopted a single step to punish the pirates in 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 Brooks, better known as the Rajah Muda of Sarawak, were on board the Cleopatra. Captain Massie's boats proceeded up the Menggatal 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 Mulish' at the time. After much difficulty the Cleopatra was taken through the Malawalli passage, and at length reached Tungku, the principal head-quarters of the Saloo pirates. The steamer's boats tried river after river before reaching the one they were in search of. Having anchored below the river, an expedition was formed of sixteen boats in two divisions, the light boats btiog under the direction of Captain Burbank of the Pluto, and the heavy boats under Captain Stephens of the Semiramis- Captain Massie, accompanied by the Acting Commissioner, proceeded in the Cleopatra's gig. White flags were hoisted in most of the boats, and after two hours' Pulling they reached the chief's house, and on the top 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 °Il the 6eP neat to be taken, they lit,resuddarai 6141Wd  with a shower of balls, or rather shots, issuing from the jangle, killing one of our men and wounding two others. Having thus 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 smoke was observed, but without any effect. The boats then returned to the shipping. On the 17th the flotilla proceeded to the place, with the view of inflicting a severe punishment for firing upon the flag of truce. The small arms men were placed on one side of the river, and the marines on the other. The stockades were reached, but the guns had 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, rind 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 Lanues managed to escape. Finding this mode of warfare very discourage inn., orders were given to destroy all the buildings, made of bamboo and cadjan, and soon replaced, together with large granaries of rice, which being accamplished 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 prahus and themselves were concealed up some of the numerous and to us unknown rivers abounding in that quarter.