A week later one of the smaller pirate boats was captured in the "blakang tana." Seven men were killed and three taken prisoners.

The larger vessels have been often seen but cannot be caught, as they have very strong crews, and can always escape by rowing out to sea in the eye of the wind, returning at night.

They will thus remain among the innumerable islands and channels, till the change of the monsoon enables them to sail westward.
March 9th.-For four or five days we have had a continual gale of wind, with occasional gusts of great fury, which seem as if they would send Dobbo into the sea.

Rain accompanies it almost every alternate hour, so that it is not a pleasant time.

During such weather I can do little, but am busy getting ready a boat I have purchased, for an excursion into the interior.