head, with a port in it, through
which a long brass gun was run. A sort of gallery extended all round
the sides, like the nettings of a ship, in which sat the rowers, who
were slaves, and not expected to fight unless in extreme cases. The
vessel had from forty to fifty oars in two tiers, with two men to each
oar. They had two triangle or sheer masts; these sheers were composed
of two long poles. The heels of the two foremost were fitted in a pair
of bits in the deck, through which ran a piece of horizontal timber, on
which they worked; so that they could be raised or depressed at
pleasure. The after pole was shorter than the others, and served as a
prop to them. When the pirates intend to board an enemy, they allow
this mast to fall over the bows, and it serves them as a ladder to climb
on to her decks. They were steered in a curious way, by two
broad-bladed oars running through the counter at either quarter. A
broad platform extended over the counter, low down abaft the raised
poop. Besides the long gun I have described, the larger vessels had a
similar one run through the bulkhead of the cabin aft, besides numerous
large swivels, four or more on a side, of various calibre, mounted in
solid uprights, secured about the sides and upper works. On the
stanchions supporting the platform were hung long matchlocks, fire-arms
of various sorts, with spears and swords. These swivel guns are called
_lelahs_, and are generally of brass. The _klewang_ is a sort of
hanger, or short sword. Their most formidable and favourite weapon is
the kriss--a short dagger of a serpentine form. Each vessel had a
square red flag at its foremast head, and a long pennant aft. The
Illanon pirates wear a large sword, with a handle to be grasped by two
hands. They dress, when going into battle, with chain, and sometimes
plate armour, which gives them a very romantic appearance. The chain
armour is made of wire, and though it will resist the thrust of a kriss,
it will not turn a musket bail.

I never in my life passed a more anxious time. "See, they are keeping
away," exclaimed Fairburn, who had been attentively watching the
pirates. "They will pass nearly a mile from us, and we may escape."

Scarcely had he uttered the words, than the sun rose with full radiance
from the water, shedding a mass of glittering light across the surface,
lighting up the sails and hulls of the southern division, and, as we
felt conscious, making us far mo