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256 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY.
all expert rowers, having two long guns in the bow, undercover
of a strong, slanting bulwark, and a ship he had taken belong-
ing to the Portuguese at Macao, carrying fourteen G-pounders
with a motle}^ crew of all nations." There was also a brig,
besides the ten proas from his allies of Borneo Proper. The
population of Sambas amounted to twelve thousand Malays and
Dyaks, and thirty thousand Chinese. So great was the terror
created by this prince not only among traders, but in the
breasts of the Sultans of neighbouring States, that the Sultan
of Pontiana* applied to Java for a British garrison, which was
granted.
In consequence of these hostile acts, the Lieutenant-Governor
of Java, in 1812, despatched up the Sambas H.M. ships ' Pro-
' Barracouta,' and ' Phoenix,' Captain Bowen, senior officer,
cris,'
with some gunboats, and one hundred men of the 78th High-
landers ; but the ' Barracouta ' was unable to force the river
defences, and the batteries opened so heavy a fire that she was
compelled to retreat, having suffered some loss. This failure so
affected the gallant Captain Bowon, who was also borne down by
fever, that he died soon after his return to Batavia. After this,
the Hon. Company's cruiser ' Aurora ' and some gunboats,
maintained a blockade of the river, until a sufficient force could
be sent to punish the Sultan of Sambas for his numerous
aggressions, and vindicate the honour of the British flag ; while
so employed the 'Aurora' recaptured some valuable junks
taken by these people, and chased into the river the ship ' Coro-
mandel.' The Sultan, apprised of the intentions of the British,
made every preparation for defence, and removed all his valuable
property and booty into the interior. In June, 1813, a second
expedition was ordered to proceed to the Sambas, and consisted
of the following ships and troops. H.M. frigates ' Leda,' Captain
G. Sayer, (Senior Naval Officer) ; ' Hussar,' Captain Hon. G.
Elliot"; 'Malacca,' Captahi D. Mackay ; and'Volage,' Captain
Leslie ; the eighteen-gun sloops, ' Hecate,' Commander Drury,
and ' Procris,' Commander Norton. The Hon. Company's ships
' Teignmouth,' sixteen,
' Malabar,' twenty, Captain R. Deane ;
Captain Sealy ; 'Aurora,' fourteen. Commander Macdonald,
'
and five gunboats. There was also the transport ' Troubridge
and Indiaman ' Princess Charlotte of Wales,' having on board
* The Sultan of Pontiaua was almost the only prince in this part of Borneo
who lived by commerce. Tlie city is situated at the junction of the Matan and
Lauda rivers, some fifteen miles from tlie sea. A point about two-thirds of the
way up the river, was strongly fortified ; and the Sultan's palace, surrounded by
the stone wall built by the Dutch, was strengthened by a battery of eleven guns.
The population of Pontiana was about seven thousand souls, and the King's
revenue 40,000 dollars. A few Chinese and Siamese junks traded with
the place, and the naval force consisted of two small ships, two brigs, fifty proas,
and about one thousand men. The Sultan liad also a second port at Mompava,
about sixteen miles to the northward of Pontiana, and of the same extent and
population.