on
Singapore, which stands on the south side of an island, about sixty
miles in circumference, separated by a narrow strait from the Malay
peninsula. Of course the establishment was opposed by the Dutch, who so
strenuously remonstrated with the British Government that the latter
declined having anything to do with it, and threw the whole
responsibility on Sir Stamford Raffles. It was not until it had been
established for three years--in the last of which the trade was already
estimated at several millions of dollars--that Singapore was recognised
by Great Britain.

After a rest of a couple of days, poor Van Deck and I were sufficiently
recovered to commence our journey back to Batavia. He was anxious to be
there that he might take charge of his late brother's affairs--I, that I
might report the loss of the brig, and make fresh arrangements for
securing a cargo for Sydney. We met with no adventures worthy of note
on our journey.

On our return to Batavia much sympathy was excited for my friend Van
Deck among the merchants at the loss of his brother, and the naval
commander-in-chief, returning soon after from Sourabaya, dispatched two
frigates and a brig of war in search of the pirates. They were supposed
to belong to some place on the coast of Borneo, which has for many years
abounded with nests of these desperadoes. The fleet in question was
supposed to belong to a famous chief, the very idol of his followers on
account of the success of his expeditions. His title was the Rajah
Raga, and he was brother to the Sultan Coti, a potentate of Borneo. The
Raja Raga had subsequently some wonderful escapes, for he probably got
due notice that an English squadron was looking after him, and took good
care to keep out of their way. He was afterwards cruising with three
large prahus, when he fell in with an English sloop-of-war, which he was
compelled to engage. Two of his prahus, by placing themselves between
him and the enemy, held her in check a sufficient time to enable him to
escape, and were themselves then sent to the bottom; indeed, they must
have expected no other fate.

On another occasion the rajah remained on shore, but sent his own prahu,
which carried upwards of a hundred and fifty men and several large guns,
on a cruise, under the command of his favourite panglima, or captain.
Falling in after some time with a brig merchantman, as he supposed, and
wishing to distinguish himself by her capture, he fired i