eft to the commercial community of India than either to abandon the
valuable commerce of Borneo wholly; or, if allured to it by a prospect
of gain, to proceed in armed vessels at an increased expense and high
insurance, so as to cover the extraordinary risks. These enhanced
prices either operated as a prohibition to the trade, or circumscribed
it so much, that an occasional capture excited no surprise, and was
frigidly dismissed as a matter of course.

But, from the prodigious accession of territorial possession, including
the whole of the vast Dutch empire in the East, the communications
between these and British India have necessarily increased a thousand
fold; consequently, the recent alarming depredations upon our commerce,
the serious obstacles to a safe communication, almost tantamount to a
blockade of our Eastern ports by these pirates, imperiously call upon
the British Government to adopt the most energetic means and decisive
measures to crush their power and annihilate their resources, either by
extirpating them wholly, or placing them and their possessions under
such future control and checks, as shall prevent the possibility of
a revival of a power capable of recurring to enormities that have so
long outraged and disgraced the British flag in the Eastern seas.

The idea of extirpating whole hordes of piratical states, were it
possible, must, from its cruelty, be incompatible with the liberal
principles and humane policy of a British government. The simple
burning down of a Malay town can prove no serious impediment to
future piratical enterprises: constructed, as they are, of bamboos,
mats, and atap leaves, a town is almost rebuilt in the same period
of time as it takes to destroy it. The Dutch, who had centuries of
dear-bought experience, knew there was no other mode of prevention
and radical cure than building small redoubts at the principal towns,
and keeping up an adequate force to check piratical enterprises, and
to turn their restless minds to exertions of industry; satisfied if,
with the attainment of these objects, they covered the expenses of
the establishment. This is the true history of the innumerable little
forts on Celebes, Borneo, Timor, and all the Eastern isles.

The principal piratical ports that still exist, beside those of
Lingin, Rhio, and Billiton, are--1st, Pangeran Annam, at Sambas; 2d,
Port Borneo Proper, and four hundred prows at Tampasuk, both under the
Rajah of Borneo Proper; 3d,