02
opposed by the Sun Dront they landed and with a large body marched out to attack the magistrate. after hour's fighting, exposing about an the official body were being worsted
I landed with the small arm men and passing through the village without opposition appeared before the combatants; about 1000 men on each side were in the valley beneath us armed with all kinds of weapons, banners and fighting with waving of beating of gongs and tom toms, while at a distance the Magistrate sat under a crimson umbrella surrounded by a group of lookers on.
The appearance of our party and three round shots from the Gun Boat pitched close to the pirates encouraged the Magistrate's side and caused panic among the others, who retreated and with our assistance were driven down a bare granite hill on our right. I with difficulty restrained the Magistrate's people from plunging into the village when there would have been indiscriminate slaughter of women and children, and it was agreed that the principal offenders should be given up or the village burnt by the Magistrate.
I then returned on board browbeating the pirate junto on my