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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
C.O. 882
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ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
Parliamentary Paper, 1851.
Page 12.
Parliamentary Paper, April 1850.
Page 4.
Page 11.
Page 12.
"The piracy of the Eastern Archipelago," says Sir James Brooke, in his memorandum on this sub.
ject, "is entirely distinct from piracy in the Western world; for from the condition of the various Governments, the facilities offered by natural situation, and the total absence of all restraint from European nations, the pirate communities have attained an importance on the coasts and islands most removed from foreign settlements. Thence they issue forth and commit depredations on the native trade, enslave the inhabitants at the entrance of rivers, and attack ill-armed or stranded European vessels; and roving from place to place, they find markets for slaves and plunder."
Of these communities, those of Serebas and Sakarran had for many years pursued a lawless and unchecked course of devastation, not only upon every other Malayan and Dyak district, but also upon
the Netherland Government of Sambas, Pon- tiana, &c., whose territories were incessantly ravaged previous to the active measures resorted to in order to check the system of depredations.
The piratical character of the Surebes and Sakarran tribes had attracted Sir James Brooke's attention as far back as the year 1839, whilst lying in his schooner, the "Royalist," at the Maratabas entrance of the Sarawak River, and it was against these tribes that in the years 1843 and 1844 an attack was made by Captain Keppel at the request of the Government of Bruné.
That officer was informed by Rajah Muda Hassim (uncle to the Sultan of Børneo), that “there were certain great pirates of the people of Seredas and Sakarran in his neighbourhood, seizing goods and murdering people on the high seas; that they had more than 300 war prahus, and extended their ravages even to Banjarmassin; that they were not subject to the Government of Bruné (or Borneo); and that they took much płunder from vessels trading between Singapore and the good people of his country.”