The Private Letters of Sir James Brooke, K.C.B., Rajah of Sarawak, Narrating the Events of His Life, from 1838 to the Present Time Volume 2 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1853 Excerpt: ... they disowned the act, were faithful to their agreement, but not sufficiently powerful to attack Pangcran Usop; as, however, the offence was committed against the English, they requested the admiral would give his assistance, to punish their refractory subject, who was guilty alike towards them, and towards the English. This was agreed to. Pangeran Usop was quiet, but in a state of preparation, and it required judgment and coolness to coerce him, in the midst of a large city, without doing damage to the other inhabitants. Fortunately his house was rather detached, and stood at the foot of a hill which commanded the whole town. About ten o'clock of the night preceding the attack, the rajah told me Usop was seen loading his guns, and that we must be on our guard to prevent the mischief which might accrue from a night attack. This information I conveyed to the Admiral, and every precaution was taken, not only aboard the " Vixen," but the other two steamers. Aboard the " Vixen " there were between four and five hundred men, marines and blue jackets, from the various ships, and in the course of the night, one of those extraordinary panics occurred, which deprive men of their senses for the time being, and it would appear, affect the best disciplined and steadiest of troops. At dead of night, a marine officer, suffering from nightmare, screamed out, and seized the next sleeper, who seized the next, and so on, the clamour spread. Some one sung out, "We are boarded by Malays " and the panic became general. The men, unarmed, rushed aft, knocking each other down in the scuffle, each man taking his neighbour for an enemy, each expecting a kris to be at his throat, and each pummelling, struggling, and punishing every body and every thing within reach. This confused mas...