THE INDIAN ARCHIPELAGO.

Lyttelton Times, Volume II, Issue 78, 3 July 1852, Page 11

THE INDIAN ARCHIPELAGO.

From the Straits Times of December 4, we take the following account.of a fearful outrage committed by a party of Lanun and Suloo pirates :—

The H.C. steamer "Pluto" on her way from Labuan to the north-east coast of Borneo, touched at Maluda Bay, at which place intelligence was received of the capture by pirates of the schooner -" Dolphin," and the murder of Mr. Burn, supercargo, and Mr. Robertson, captain, as also a portion, of "the crew. This outrage is said to have taken place about the beginning of September last. From made, it appeared that in the evening, 1 whilst the vessel was under weigh, two boats manned by ten men went alongside and intimated their desire to trade, which Captain Robertson declined to do until daylight next morning. About 7 o'clock on the following morning, two men one a Lanun and the other a Suloo, went on board, apparently to trade with. Mr. Burns, having with them some mats, pearls and camphor. Whilst Mr. Burns was in a stooping posture, his attention taken up examining some pearls in his hands, —a Borneo mat, rolled up, was handed from the boat, in which was concealed a Suloo Kris; the pretended trader adroitly drew out the hidden weapon, and at a single cut severed Burns's head from his body. Capt. Robertson was pacing up and down the quarter-deck, and at this juncture his back was towards Burns. The Suloo man, observing Burns despatched, made a cut at Robertson's neck, who turning at the moment, re-

ceiyed a kris-wound across the chin, and ran forward to the jibboom end, from whence he begged hard for his life. From one of the boats under the schooner's bows, several spears were thrown at Robertson, who fell into the water, and was finished by a s=pear thrust through his body. Three of the crew (Malays) were all butchered ; not the least resistance w,iS offered ; the arms being all below in the hold. The rest of the crew took to the water, or escaped up the rigging, their lives were spared, being bound with ropes as prisoners. A native woman on board was nearly cut in two, and thrown into the sea. On obtaining this information, the " Pluto" proceeded to Labuk Bay, to which place the " Dolphin" was reported to have been taken by the pirates. Owing to the shallowness of the water, the boats were got ready, consisting of the two paddlebox boats, each fitted with a six-pounder, and the first cutter under the command of Mr. Hodge of the " Pluto," and accompanied by Mr. St. John, officiating Commissioner. In consequence of the intricacy of the 'Benguin river, some difficulty was experienced in hitting upon the right channel; after passing some distance, the " Dolphin's" boat was observed pulling towards the flotilla, and at 6 p.m., Mr. Hodge boarded the schooner " Dolphin" at anchor in the Benguin river. The same evening Mr. St. John proceeded up the river to seethe chief, from whom it was ascertained that on the arrival of the schooner, he demanded of the pirates what vessel it was; the} said it was a Spanish trader, and as the Suloos were at war with Spain, they had a right to take her. The crew were interrogated, but from fear said they did not know what flag they sailed under. But one of the chief's people seeing the crew said—"You are Mr. Burns's!" Upon which they told what had happened, when the chief himself cut down one of the pirates, others were wounded, and some captured, but were subsequently released by a large party of Suloos and Lanuns, who threatened to return and destroy the chief of Benguin. The flotilla towed the schooner to Labuk Bay, and on November 2, rejoined the " Pluto. 5' The steamer then towed the " Dolphin" to the entrance of Malluda bay, placed on board four European seamen, victualled the native crew, and despatched her to Singapore. The Straits Times adds, that on the 3rd of November a considerable fleet of large prahus and canoes were observed from the "Pluto" in Malluda bay, proceeding in the direction of Benguin, and conjectured to be tbe party which the Benguin chief was threatened with. On observing the " PJuto,"they made for "the shore, emptied'their"'vessels, and took refuge in the jungle, From one of their number it was ascertained that they were Bajoos, and that they fled, not having seen a steamer before, and were much alarmed—this statement was probably untrue. Tbe " Pluto" proceeded to Tunkoo to demand tbe surrender of tbe pirates who were forcibly carried away from the custody of the chief of Benguin. Tunkoo is one of the head quarters of tbe pirates, and from its reputed strength and tbe character of tbe pirates, we expect to hear of the " Pluto's" having a smart affair in that quarter.