CHAPTER VII.

The Potomac, disguised as a Merchantman, anchors off Quallah-Battoo—A reconnoitring party of Americans deterred from landing by the hostile movements of the Malays-But little hopes of obtaining Indemnification by peaceable measuresPreparations for Enforcing our just demands-Humane Instructions of the Commodore-Landing of the Crew, with strict orders not to commence Hostilities, unless attacked by the Malays-The latter fire on the Americans, who immediately advance to the Attack, and storm and dismantle all the Forts but oneThe Victorious Party return on board-Loss in the Attack-Funeral Service for the Slain-Official Documents.

In order that the Malays might not comprehend the real designs. and character of the Potomac, the stump topgallant masts were got up, the maindeck guns run in and ranged fore and aft, the half ports shut in, and the white streak so altered as to show only ten ports on a side. The frigate was thus made to assume the appearance of a merchant ship of great burden and capacity, like many of the East India traders. When all was prepared, the commodore, on the fifth of February, stood in, and came to anchor about five miles from the land.

From a manuscript chart, which had previously been taken by Captain Endicott, a tolerably correct idea could be formed of the local situations of the forts. The commodore, however, deemed it important that still more accurate information should be procured, if practicable, of their true positions; at least, that those intended to lead the several divisions should, previous to their landing with the forces which were intended for the settlement of accounts with these people, be fully aware of what they had to encounter, in effecting this object.

Voluntary justice on the part of the Malays, for the piratical act of which we complained, was not to be looked for, and was entirely out of the question. It was the act of a whole community, with at least the connivance of their rulers the rajahs. The only plan, therefore, that promised success in compelling them to do us justice, was that of securing the persons of some of

their principal rajahs, and retaining them as hostages until the actual perpetrators of this atrocious act of piracy were brought to condign punishment, and ample restitution of property made to the owners of the ship Friendship, and her unfortunate officers and crew. When similar acts of aggression are perpetrated by the primitive proprietors of the American soil-when a robbery or murder has been committed by one or more individuals of a tribe on our western frontiers-the nearest local authority immediately makes a demand that the culprits be forthwith given up to abide the penalties of our own laws; and, if refused, the demand is quickly enforced by the arm of military power; and chiefs, like Black Hawk, have been retained in custody as hostages for the future good behaviour of their tribes. Ought the bloodthirsty inhabitants of Sumatra to be treated with any more lenity than the much wronged and oppressed aborigines of our own country? Let justice and humanity answer the question.

In order, then, to secure the persons of the rajahs without bloodshed, it was desirable, as before intimated, to gain more accurate information than the commodore possessed, respecting the exact position of the several fortresses in which these oriental princes were to be found. To effect this object, the commodore directed that the following system of espionage be adopted :-a boat was prepared to visit the shore, and Lieutenant Shubrick, in citizen's dress, was to represent the captain of the Potomac as a merchantman; while Lieutenant Edson was to represent the supercargo, anxious to procure a supply of pepper. Lieutenants. Pinkham, Hoff, Ingersoll, and Acting-sailing-master Totten, dressed as sailors, rowed the boat; and it was intended that they should stroll about the village ground, and pick up what information they could in relation to the state of defence of the Malay forts, while the mock captain and supercargo should open negotiations in relation to a cargo of pepper. These officers having received the necessary instructions from Mr. Barry, as to the plan of opening negotiations with the rajahs, the boat put off from the ship.

The Potomac had anchored in twenty fathoms, soft bottom, the town bearing north five miles distant. The boat had not proceeded beyond hail of the frigate, when the bottom was perceived under her; which induced Lieutenant Shubrick to hail the

ship, and communicate the fact. A boat was immediately sent to sound, and found a coral reef, of two or three acres in extent, with but five fathoms of water upon the shoalest part.

In the meantime, as the other boat approached the beach, the Malays began to collect in considerable force. There was much surf on the shore at the time; and of the number collected around the boat, not less than two hundred were armed, some with krisses and knives, and others with blunderbusses. It seemed evident that they had some suspicion of the character and object of their visiters; and appeared so formidable in numbers and weapons, that the party deemed it imprudent to land; which caution was approved by the commodore, who had watched with great anxiety the boat's approach to the beach, with the great number of Malays which were seen gathered round the spot where it was expected she would land. The party, of course, returned to the frigate.

From all that had thus far been witnessed, there was nothing that seemed to require the least alteration in the mind of the commodore, as to the correctness of the plans he had previously matured; on the contrary, every thing seemed to confirm and strengthen them. The physical force of the Malays was by no means inconsiderable; and their fastnesses in the jungle rendered them exceedingly formidable. Prompt measures, and such as were calculated, if possible, to effect a surprise, were evidently indicated as the only course compatible with humanity and sound policy. As soon as it was dark the boats were hoisted out, and during the night every preparation was made for landing.

The several divisions were now, to a man, impatient to be under way. Indeed, the spirit of the enterprise pervaded the whole ship's company to such a degree, that even the sick-list was reduced lower than it had previously or has since been known; so eager was every one to be ranked among the combatants. Men who could not be detailed for this service were found stowed away and concealed in the boats, with the hope of joining their companions on shore. The very uncertainty of the character, or final result of the enterprise, seemed to give it a new and irresistible charm in the eyes of every genuine sailor.

The rules of the service not permitting the commodore to leave the ship in person, the command of the expedition devolved

upon Lieutenant Shubrick, to whom the commodore had very fully imparted his instructions, and explained his views in general, for the whole management of the enterprise. Foreseeing, however, that the plan of operations on shore would inevitably lead to a separation of the several divisions, the commodore took occasion, while the whole party stood under arms on the spardeck, to explain to the officers at the head of their respective divisions, as well as to the men, the nature and objects of the service upon which they were about to engage, and for which they had been ordered by their government to this distant part of the world; and that, however few in numbers, or humble the enterprise, that much good or evil to the future safety of American interest, and the lives of their countrymen engaged in commercial pursuits in these seas, might depend on their good conduct that night.

He then explained to them that their first object on landing should be to surround the several forts, so as to intercept the flight of the rajahs, as the first and all important preliminary step towards opening a successful parley, and final investigation in relation to the Friendship, the outrages committed upon which vessel had alone led to their present visit to this island; and that in no instance, and on no account whatever, were they to commence hostilities, nor fire a gun upon the Malays, unless the attack first came from them; in which case, they were not only to defend themselves, but should rush at once to the assault; and at every hazard carry the forts which had thus refused to hold conference. Should the conflict become warm, he trusted they would bear in mind that humanity to the vanquished was ever more honourable to the victor than valour; and, above all, he charged them to lessen, by every means in their power, the sufferings and alarm of the unarmed and defenceless.

He next reminded them, and earnestly urged the fact on their attention, that but little was known respecting the localities of the place where they were about to land, and still less of the strength of the forts they were to invest, the number and arms of the enemy, or the resistance they might make. He charged them not to forget that the honour of their country, so far as committed to their keeping, as well as their own honour and safety, might, and most probably would, depend upon their steadiness, and the alacrity

with which they supported each other in the impetuosity of their attack, should such become the unpleasant alternative. In a word, they were to look to Lieutenant Shubrick as their leader; and to execute, with implicit obedience, his orders in the general movements, as well as the commands of officers in charge of the several divisions, while separated from each other.

Orders were now given to pass over the side of the ship, and take their places, as arranged, in the several boats. These orders were obeyed with a half suppressed and willing ardour which gave confidence as to the result of the enterprise, as well as an earnest of what still might be expected from American seamen when their country shall require their services on a more important theatre, and on a larger scale. One of the sections of each division was armed with pistols and boarding-pikes, the rest with muskets. The boats in which the whole embarked were, the launch, four cutters, and the life-boat.

The six-pounder, familiarly known to the officers and men by the cognomen of "Betsey Baker," was placed in the launch, to which a small stage had been fitted, and towed astern, for the purpose of facilitating the landing of the gun and the men, in case the surf should be found so high as to endanger the arms and ammunition. Every thing being now ready, and the men at their oars, the little flotilla left the frigate, led by Lieutenant Shubrick in the whale-boat, to indicate the place of landing. The other boats, with the largest ahead, followed in line, all with muffled oars, and silent as the grave.

It was now about two o'clock, A. M., on the morning of Monday, the sixth of February. The night was still-the stars bright -but no moon. Not a word was spoken above the low, suppressed whisper, as the boats glided swiftly on towards the shore. The place of landing having been selected previously to leaving the ship, no difficulty was found in steering the boats to the designated spot, which was not far from the fort of the powerful rajah, Muley Mahomet. This place is almost a mile to the north of the town, and was selected as promising the most convenient spot for the men to land on, and form in their respective divisions; and as being in some measure protected from a view of the town by a projecting point of land.

On approaching the shore, two lights were seen moving in dif