CHAPTER VIII.

Bombardment of Tuca de Lama-The Malays ask a Truce-Alarm of the inhabitants of Soo-soo-The friendly Rajah, Po Adam, relieves their apprehensions -Embassy of submission from the Malays of Quallah-Battoo-The Commodore's admonition to them, interpreted by Po Adam-The Potomac anchors at Soo-soo to procure water-Precautions against a surprise-Po Adam's friendship for the Americans, and consequent losses-His character, dress, and personal appearance -His allegiance to the King of Acheen-Outrage of the king's brother-Po Adam's retaliation-His wives-Astonishment of the Malays on inspecting the force of the Potomac-Interchange of presents-Ceremony of killing a buffalo.

THAT nothing should be left undone to leave an indelible impression on the minds of these people, of the power of the United States to inflict punishment for aggressions committed on her commerce, in seas however distant, the ship was got under way the following morning, and brought to, with a spring on her cable, within less than a mile of the shore, when the larboard side was brought to bear nearly upon the site of the town.

The object of the commodore, in this movement, was not to open an indiscriminate or destructive fire upon the town and inhabitants of Quallah-Battoo, but to show them the irresistible power of thirty-two pound shot, and to reduce the fort of Tuca de Lama, which could not be reached on account of the jungle and stream of water, on the morning before; and from which a fire had been opened and continued during the embarcation of the men into their boats, on their return to the ship.

The policy of this measure cannot be too highly appreciated, when it is remembered that these people, while practising their piracies, or watching every favourable opportunity to capture ships trading with them, were frequently told by our captains that outbreakings or violence on their part would most assuredly cause the government of America to send out an adequate force to punish them; and that there was always a disposable one, ready to perform such service. At this idea they always tossed their heads in a contemptuous manner, exclaiming with a loud laugh, "Ameri

can ship big gun! no have got big gun American ship." One of the rajahs, when Mr. Barry was endeavouring to convince him that the people, and the great rajah of his country, possessed large ships, loaded with nothing but guns, powder, and shot, and having hundreds of men on board, for the purpose of redressing the wrongs done to his people abroad, laughed in his face most heartily, and replied, that he had spoken a falsehood. Mr. Barry insisted that what he had stated was true; when the rajah again replied, that it could not be so. If we had ships which he could not take with his sampans and proas, "why had they never been on the coast?" The prevalence of this belief is not to be wondered at. American trade on that coast had been carried on for nearly forty years, without the shadow of protection from the arm of government; while other nations, whose trade did not amount to one tenth of our own, had sent armed vessels to look after it.

From the manner in which the Potomac was disguised, and her previous distance from the shore, the natives could not, until her firing had actually commenced, have formed the most distant idea of the tremendous effect of thirty-two pound shot, when discharged from a gun of that calibre.

The fort of Tuca de Lama was very soon deserted, while the shot was cutting it to pieces, and tearing up whole cocoa-trees around it by the roots.

In performing this service, there was a fine opportunity of observing the great proficiency the crews of the guns had made in that highly important part of their profession, loading and firing. Though the cannonade was brisk and constant for more than half an hour, not the most trifling accident occurred, and the shots were directed against De Lama's fort with great precision. When silence had been commanded, and the firing ceased, the Malays embraced the opportunity to exhibit, in conspicuous places along the shore, white flags; that colour being considered among them a signal for peace.

The commodore was pleased to see this movement on their part; and, believing that they would not very soon deny "that the Americans had big ships and large guns," directed an answering flag of white to be hoisted at the mainmast head, and the batteries to be secured.

It appears that the rajahs of Quallah-Battoo had some diffi

culty of a serious nature with the people of Soo-soo or Pulo Kio, and that both parties were ready to commence hostilities at the slightest provocation; and we have since learned that it was principally owing to this cause, that the forts were in so good a state of defence, and had so many well-armed Malays to defend them, at the time of the attack by the divisions from the Potomac.

In a former chapter it has been mentioned that Soo-soo was but a few miles to the southward and eastward of Quallah-Battoo and the establishments and fort of the friendly rajah, Po Adam, at the head of a small cove called Pulo Kio, or Woody Island; the little promontory resembling an island when viewed from the sea.

These people, dreading lest they might be considered as having been participators in the late offence of their neighbours, would probably have fled to their forts and their jungles, had not Po Adam assured them that his prediction, the fulfilment of which they had so long doubted, was now in truth coming to pass; that the great rajah of America had now sent a big ship to punish those who had robbed and murdered his people.

So much influence over their minds and feelings did he exercise, that they witnessed the cannonade without the slightest apprehension of the guns being turned in their direction; indeed, many of them came out some distance in their proas around a point, in order to have a better view of the bombardment of De Lama's fort.

In the course of the afternoon, a boat came off from the shore bearing a flag of truce to the commodore, beseeching him, in all the practised forms of submission common to the east, that he would grant them peace, and cease to fire his big guns. He seemed to be fully aware of the object of his visit, and of the enormity of their offence, as they not only asked to be forgiven for past errors and offences, but most solemnly promised, in the name of the people who had sent them, that no further outrages should ever be committed by them on our commerce.

In bidding them be more at their ease, and giving them assurance that hostilities had now ceased, the commodore directed them to say to the remaining rajahs and people of Quallah-Battoo, and all others with whom they had any intercourse on the whole coast, that the object of his government in sending him to their shores

had now been consummated in the punishment of the guilty, who had committed their piracies on the Friendship; that they must now be cautious of the misconceptions they had formed of the naval power of his country, and how reckless and inconsiderate they must be ever again to provoke that power. Though he had taken their town, it was instantly restored to them; as it formed no part of the policy of his government to make conquest, and form establishments in foreign ports. That his countrymen would still continue to visit their ports, and trade with them, as they had done before; and that, while they conducted themselves with justice and humanity, they need be under no apprehension of future attacks from the big ships of his country; but in case they should, either here, or at any other port on the coast, be guilty of cutting off another of the merchant ships of his country, they might rest perfectly assured that punishment, though for a time delayed, would fall upon them at a moment perhaps when they least expected it.

Po Adam was the interpreter during this interview, which was conducted with the greatest solemnity, and seemed to sink deeply into the minds of these ambassadors of peace. It is hoped the effect may be for good. Their astonishment on getting a view of the ship's batteries, masts, and rigging, seemed very great; and no doubt, the account they bore to their companions on shore of the wonderful engines of destruction they had seen, will have a salutary influence in preventing outbreakings among them; as fear is the only restraint to a people who acknowledge no moral obligations.

By way of a peace-offering, they had brought off a number of cocoanuts, a quantity of sugarcane, and fruits of various kinds; which, being received by the commodore, they were dismissed to return on shore.

At six A. M., on the morning of the eighth, the Potomac was under way from the place where she had come to anchor on the evening before, and stood for Soo-soo, with a light wind from the northward and eastward. This distance, like other portions of the coast, was run entirely by the guidance of the lead; the numerous and dangerous coral reefs making this precaution necessary for a vessel drawing so great a depth of water. At eight A. M., the anchor was let go in twenty-seven fathoms, Quallah

Battoo bearing north-by-west-half-west; Pulo Kio, northeast-bynorth; and Soo-soo, northeast-by-east-half-east.

Lieutenant Wilson was immediately despatched on shore in the launch, attended by a suitable guard, to make arrangements for watering the ship; bearing with him a flag of truce. He found corresponding white flags flying in several places along the shore; and having met with no difficulties in making arrangements for getting off water, before noon he returned on board.

At the place of watering, the river is enclosed between two abrupt banks of sand; the northwest side answering the double purpose of confining the river to its bed, and of forming the little bay of Soo-soo upon the other. The launch and third cutter were the boats put in requisition for this service; the superior officers, in turn, taking charge of them, protected at all times by an armed guard, besides the launch, bearing in her a six-pounder, which the sailors declared was own cousin to Betsey Baker, that had behaved so well a morning or two before, at Quallah, and to which they had given the name of Miss Polly Hopkins. The boats, as there was some surf upon the beach, more particularly when the seabreeze sets in, were necessarily moored, with a grapnel seaward and a rope upon the shore. The distance from the shore of the bay across to the river is about thirty yards. Elevated upon some casks, the hose-tube was placed securely, and the hose led to the boats, which were moored outside the surf; a few hands being left in the boats to attend to the filling. The party on shore waded into the river, carrying the water in buckets and pouring it into the hose-tube, which being elevated five or six feet in the distance of twenty yards, the water glided rapidly into the casks in the boats.

While this duty was going on, the Malays collected in large numbers on the banks of the river, armed, as usual, with krisses and long knives, and watching with much apparent curiosity this method of watering.

It was soon ascertained that many of these spectators were from Quallah-Battoo; and as the natives of Sumatra are so famed for cunning, fickleness, and treachery, it was thought they might possibly, under present excitement, seek any favourable opportunity that might offer to renew hostilities with any unguarded portion of the watering party. This, however, was not probable,"