uropeans; and to prove how little we are acquainted even with its
shores, I actually sailed by the best Admiralty chart eighty miles
inland, and over the tops of mountains!

_May 4th, 1843._--Passed through the Tambelans, a beautiful group
of between 100 and 150 small islands. They are very extensive, and
but thinly inhabited. There is good anchorage near some of them; but
we had nothing less than twenty fathoms. They are placed so close
together that, after passing the first, we were to all appearance
completely land-locked in a magnificent and capacious harbor. The
following morning we anchored off the mouth of the Sambas river,
and sent the boats away to examine the creeks, islands, and rivers
along the coast for traces of pirates--which were discovered by the
remains of their fires on different parts, although no clew could be
obtained as to the direction in which they had gone. On the morning
of the 8th I again sent the pinnace and two cutters, Mr. Partridge,
Messrs. D'Aeth and Jenkins, with a week's provisions, the whole under
the command of Lieutenant Wilmot Horton, Mr. Brooke kindly offering
his assistance, which, from his knowledge of the Malay language, as
well as of the kind of vessels used by the pirates, was thankfully
accepted. I directed them to proceed to the Island of Marundum, and,
after visiting the South Natunas, to rejoin the Dido at Sarawak. In
the mean time I proceeded leisurely along the coast, anchoring where
convenient, and finding regular soundings all the way in from four
to ten fathoms: weather remarkably fine, and water smooth. On the
morning of the 9th, on rounding Tanjong Datu, we opened suddenly on a
suspicious-looking boat, which, on making us out, ran for a small, deep
bay formed by Cape Datu and the next point to the eastward. Standing
a little further on, we discovered a second large boat in the offing,
which likewise stood in shore, and afterward a third at the bottom
of the bay. From the description I had received, I easily made these
out to be Illanuns, an enterprising tribe of pirates, of whose daring
adventures I had heard much. They inhabit a small cluster of islands
off the N.E. coast of Borneo, and go out in large fleets every year to
look for prahus bound to Singapore or the Straits; and, after capturing
the vessels, reduce their crews to slavery. It is of a cruel nature;
for Mr. Brooke observes: "Nor is the slavery of that mild description
which is often attributed to the A