Having seen the last boat off, Brooke and I took our departure in the gig, when another salute was fired from the wharf. Three hours brought us to the steamer. Here we heard that a small boat from the pirate country had, under pretence of trading, been spying into our force, but decamped on our appearance. We now got fairly away, the smaller boats keeping near the shoals in-shore, while the steamer was obliged to make an offing some miles from the coast. From the masthead we distinctly made out the small boat that had left the mouth of the river before, pulling and sailing in the direction of Batang Lupar, up which the Sekarran country lies; and it being desirable that they should not get information of our approach, at dusk, being well in advance, our auxiliary force following, we despatched Brooke’s sampan and one of _Dido’s_ cutters in chase. [Sidenote: Aug. 6.] With the flood-tide arrived the well-appointed little fleet, and with it the cutter and sampan with two out of the three men belonging to the boat of which they had been in chase, the third having been speared by Seboo on showing a strong inclination to run amuck in his own boat. From these men we learned that Seriff Sahib was fully prepared for defence--his harem had been removed--and that he would fight to the last. We anchored in the afternoon at the mouth of the Linga, and sent a messenger to caution the chief, Seriff Jaffer, against giving any countenance to either Seriff. The Batang Lupar, thus far, is a magnificent river, from three to four miles wide, and in most parts from 5 to 7 fathoms deep. [Sidenote: Aug. 7.] Weighed at daylight. Shortly after eleven, with a tide sweeping us up, we came in sight of the fortifications of Patusen. There were five forts. Getting suddenly into 6 feet of water, we anchored. We were well within musket range, but not so formidable a berth as we might have taken up had we been aware of the increasing depth of water nearer the shore; but we approached so rapidly there was no time to ascertain. The _Dido_ and _Phlegethon’s_ boats were not long in forming alongside. They consisted of the following:-- Pinnace: Lieutenant C. F. Wade; R. Beith, assistant-surgeon; 13 seamen; 5 marines. _Jolly Bachelor_: Lieutenant E. W. Turnour; Mr. C. Johnson, midshipman; 21 seamen; 7 marines. First cutter: Mr. E. H. H. D’Aeth, mate; 8 seamen; 8 marines. Second cutter: Mr. Robert Jenkins, acting-mate; 8 seamen; 2 marines. Second gig: Mr. R. C. Allen, Master; 6 seamen. _Phlegethon’s_ first cutter: Mr. S. Caverley, first officer; 15 men. Second cutter: Mr. Simpson, second officer; Mr. A. Barton, midshipman; 15 seamen. Third cutter: Mr. H. Comber, acting-mate of _Dido_; 12 seamen. Fourth cutter: Mr. G. S. Darby, fourth officer; 12 seamen. In all, 13 officers; 108 seamen; 16 marines.