ACTION BETWEEN H.M.S. 'NEMESIS,' 'COLUMBINE'S' BOAT, AND BORNEO PIRATES,

30th May, 1847.

A severe, though brilliant action, took place on the 30th May, 1847, between the H.E.I.C. steamer 'Nemesis' and a number of piratical prahus. Early in the morning the steamer, with Mr. Brooke and Captain Grey on board, and having in tow a cutter of H.M.S. 'Columbine,' left the town of Brunè to cross over to the new British port of Labuan. Information was received on the way down the river that some fishermen had been chased at daylight, and on rounding the point of the island of Moarra, the look-out of the 'Nemesis' descried a fleet of Balanini or Sulo pirates in full chase of a trading prahu in the offing. Immediately the steamer appeared, the pirates, quitting the chase, pulled in shore to the westward, and at the same time cut away the small boats they had in tow, whilst the steamer, pursuing at full power, lost much ground by having to round the extensive shoal which stretches from Moarra Point (Ujong Sapo) to the islet of Pilong Pilongau. The Balinini were first descried at half-past 9 o'clock A.M., and about mid-day, finding the steamer gaining upon them, came to an anchor. At 1 o'clock P.M., the pirate fleet was plainly made out from the 'Nemesis.' Eleven large prahus, anchored in line, at a distance of 10 yards one from another, along a sandy beach, with their heads to sea, their sterns (fast by stern-warps ashore) in the surf, with a hawser passing along from boat to boat. The bows of the prahus were protected by ampilans, formed of musket-proof planks; they appeared well armed, crowded with men, and in this formidable position awaited the approach of the steamer.

At 1.30, the pirates opened fire on the steamer, and the action commenced in earnest, at a distance of about 200 yards, the steamer being in two fathoms' water, and rolling heavily in a ground-swell. For two hours a heavy fire was kept up from the 'Nemesis,' and the fire from the pirates being nearly silenced, and their prahus evidently greatly damaged, Captain Grey, with three cutters (one belonging to H.M.S. 'Columbine,' and two to the 'Nemesis'), resolved to make a dash at the left of the pirates' position, whilst the steamer poured in grape and canister upon the centre and right, to prevent their rendering aid to their comrades. On the advance of the boats, the pirates, casting loose the hawser which attached the prahus together, pulled away to the eastward in a crippled state, leaving two prahus in possession of the boats, and numbers of men on the beach or jungle. The 'Nemesis' pursued to the eastward, and one after another, drove six of the flying enemy ashore, all of which were for the time abandoned by their crews, but could not be taken possession of, owing to the small number of British boats in the action. In the meantime, whilst Captain Grey was securing the two prizes already mentioned to the westward, and the 'Nemesis' in full pursuit of the last three prahus to the eastward, five out of the six deserted boats were remanned, and, with a resolution praiseworthy in a better cause, bore down to the attack of the three small cutters. Captain Wallage, commander of the 'Nemesis,' perceiving this manœuvre, and convinced that these prahus must at all events escape to the westward, returned in that direction, while the sixth deserted prahu being remanned, and favoured by a breeze, crowded all sail to the eastward after her three consorts, and thus the four escaped. The five pirate prahus, now advancing boldly towards the three cutters, perceiving the retrograde movement of the 'Nemesis,' made every effort to escape to the westward, and a severe action took place between the sternmost prahu and the boats, the enemy defending himself with the utmost resolution, and inflicting a severe loss on the British. Whilst Captain Grey was engaged in the capture of this large prahu, the 'Nemesis' pursued the four to the westward, two of which were captured, while the remaining two escaped in the darkness in a completely shattered state, after having been several times deserted and as often remanned. Thus concluded this successful action with a pirate force consisting of 11 prahus, two of the largest size, four somewhat smaller, with crews of fully 50 men each, and five with a complement of 35 to 40 hands. The force of the pirates, at a moderate computation, must be reckoned at 500 men, exclusive of captives, and these, on the testimony of some rescued Chinese, were above 100 persons. The loss on the side of the pirates was estimated at 80 or 100 killed, and about double that number wounded. One man was killed in the British force, and seven wounded; two mortally and the rest severely. Ten brass guns, varying in size from nine-pounders to "lelas," and five iron guns (three to six-pounders) were captured. Between 200 and 300 of the pirates took refuge in the jungle, whence they were hunted out by the Sultan's people. Five prahus were taken, and the escape of the rest is to be attributed to the small number of British boats engaged, as at one time eight prahus were lying on the beach abandoned by their crews; and had the British boats been sufficient to have secured them, the other three would have been overtaken by the 'Nemesis.' From the statement of some of the liberated captives, it appears that the pirates had visited the southern coasts of Borneo, the Straits of Banka, Sinkess, the Anambas, the Natunas, and the north-west coast of Borneo, ransacking trading-boats and villages, and taking prisoners men, women, and children. One Chinese, who was too ill to work, was hung up and cut to pieces. During the action with the 'Nemesis,' the captives were compelled to sit on the decks of the prahus, by which some lost their lives; others swam ashore with the pirates, and were attacked at first by the Kadyan Dyaks, who, however, on ascertaining which were the captives, conducted them to Brunè to the Sultan, by whom they were kindly treated. About 40 pirates were brought in alive, and the captives were desired by the Sultan to take their revenge. This they declined, saying, "God is great, and will punish the wicked."