1
316
#t squeeze". Any towns also who do not pay the "squeeze" de-
manded are fired at.
(This is
assistance.
the pirates
confirmed by the owner of the Dosing Salnam
tow who called on board during my absence to thank us for our
He had also been warned that his tow would be
rired on and I understand he had replied that he would fire
back. He also informed us that our shots had killed some of
we had seen one wounded man being removed).
The attacks cannot be very serious as they had been
repulsed without difficulty. At present there is no military
garrison in Sainan but there are about 100 trained police of
town guards and 200 half tra ned merchant volunteers. These
have driven back the pirate boate on each occasion. There are
two stone watch towers manned by the police, one on the East
end of Sainam Island and one on the North bank of the river
above Sainam town. A small boat attack was made on the latter
on the night of October 30th but driven off.
I do not consider these attacks at all serious, though
they have been of fairly frequent occurrence.
The pirate villages of which Sun Sha is said to be the
worst were pointed out by Mr. Pun and are marked on the
attached rough sketch.
At present there is sufficient height of water in the
river for "Robin" to get within gun range of all of them.
Since 1235 on November 10th no further firing of any
description has occurred.
I have, etc.,
(Sgd) A. L. Poland.
Lieutenant Commander
in Command.