3-034-598 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

H.M.S. Rinaldo bombarding Salangore, in the Strait of Malacca, 1871. Royal navy warship at '...Salangore,...a town situated at the mouth of the river which bears the same name, in the Malay peninsula...The hill on the right, which overlooks the town and defends the river, is...surmounted by an earthwork fort...The low hill at the mouth of the river is crowned by another earth fort...nearer the water, is an earth battery, mounting seven guns, which are 32-pounders. The ascent to these forts is extremely steep and rugged; they are capable, therefore, of a very strong resistance...The cause of the Rinaldo's presence in the river of Salangore was the attack made the day before on a small party of her men, under the command of Lieutenant Maude, who were at the time escorting a Rajah to the boat for conveyance on board the colonial yacht Pluto, for the purpose of an inquiry into the alleged protection of escaped piratical murderers, contrary to the treaty between the Sultan of Salangore and the Colonial Government; and also on account of threats and menaces used by his people to the police officers sent to arrest the pirates...British troops...completely destroyed everything that remained from the bombardment, including all the guns and magazines'. From "Illustrated London News", 1871.