Faulcon was sent to interview the rebels and to induce them to return to their allegiance. He pardoned all those who came and acknowledged their faults. The Malays who had rebelled simply because they had been prevailed upon by the others, gave testimony of their repentance and obedience in future. But the Macassars, who were unprincipled scoundrels, showed a ferocious courage that feared death less than the shame of submission. Their Prince was frequently ordered to appear before the King's tribunal, not to be judged, but merely to acknowledge his guilt and to reveal the names of his fellow-conspirators. He excused himself on various pretexts and alleged that although he was not guilty, yet he could not endure the shame of having to justify his actions. If he had anything to reproach himself with, it was the fact that he was unable to reveal the names of those who had entrusted him with their secrets, but that his dignity would have been compromised had he condescended to play the part of a spy and informer, and furthermore that far from wishing to betray the King to whom he owed so much, he was incapable of traducing the very least of his friends. The King who could not subdue his pride by kindness, found that he was obliged to resort to force. But the Macassars too hardy to blench at the approach of death, gave him to understand that the most formidable enemies are those who are prepared to die.
Hearing of their resistance, the King of Macassar sent slaves and money to the rebellious princes to ensure them a means of subsistance.
A Malay captain, one of the ringleaders of the revolt, thought that he could take advantage of the ship which had brought these gifts to Bangkok, to find a home in some other land. But the Chevalier de Forbin by means of a warrant he had received for his arrest, prevented his escape. He had asked for, and obtained a passport to leave the Kingdom, but on his arrival at the chain stretched as a barrier across the river, Forbin sent an order that he should land and give an account of the members of his suite.
The Captain, perceiving the threatened danger, replied that he would only submit to the governor's order on condition of his being accompanied by all his suite bearing arms.
After some deliberation he was allowed to land with an escort of eight soldiers armed with daggers. These daggers are formidable weapons as they are usually poisoned. The possession of one of these daggers is a mark of honourable distinction among the Macassars, and the surrender of it to an enemy is considered to be the greatest disgrace, and whoever draws his weapon and does not succeed in killing his adversary is held to be dishonoured in the sight of the nation. The captain, apprehensive of danger, fearlessly disembarked from his ship and made it known to his companions that it was his determination to plunge his dagger into the breast of the first man that attempted to disarm him. On his arrival at the fort he was ordered to send for the rest of his suite who remained in the ship. He was obliged to yield as the hall was filled with soldiery. An officer commanded him in the King's name, to surrender his dagger, but instead of obeying, the Malay stabbed him to the heart. Two Siamese soldiers tried to seize him, but they met with the same fate as their officer, and a fourth man succumbed to his blows. Then in a frenzy of rage he and his companions rushed on the soldiers who were armed with pikes, and forced their way through in defiance of death. They sprang upon a bastion, but the musketry fire compelled them to leap into the fosse. Some, even were able to make a stand against the guards posted to stop their flight, but, sorely wounded, they received the fatal strokes they had desired to deal. When the captain lay dying in the dust, a French officer advanced to seize his dagger, but instead of grasping it by the handle, he only managed to get the scabbard. The Macassar, recalled to action by the fear of losing his weapon, snatched it and ripped up his adversary and exhausted by the effort, died together with him. By this stubborn resistance Forbin was assured that the survivors would sell their lives dearly. He turned out the garrison which numbered four hundred. There were only thirty-two Macassars and they were reduced to desperation. These savages, more like wild beasts than men, wished to dictate terms rather than to make them. They demanded the body of their captain and threatened to punish the French if they refused to give it up. When they perceived that Forbin was making preparations to attack them, they made ready for a vigorous defence. They twisted strips of cloth round their arms and shoulders to serve as shields. An English captain, underrating the strength of these fanatics, told the general that he would go forth and bring them back in chains. He advanced, but soon fell a victim to his daring. The Macassars fell upon him and stabbed both him and his followers through and through with their daggers. The garrison on seeing this rash venture, were panic-stricken and broke their ranks. Forbin made vain efforts to rally them and ran a great risk of losing his own life. If the Macassars had but known how to take advantage of the terror they had inspired, they could have rendered themselves masters of the fort. But as they were more desirous of the blood of their enemies than of dictating terms; they massacred without mercy all the soldiers, women and children who fell into their hands. Having glutted their thirst for vengeance, they dispersed into the jungle where they suffered greatly from hunger and the attacks of leeches and mosquitoes. They were hunted like wild beasts, and in spite of their desperate condition, they had the courage to face death with their weapons in readiness. They appeared merely to regret the fact of death in cases where they could not take the lives of their adversaries.
Those who were taken alive, begged for death, and tired of life, they merely desired the same fate as their companions whom they did not wish to survive.
The Prince of the Macassars, to whom the fate of his companions should have been a warning, ought to have yielded himself to the mercy of the King; but he still persisted in his refusal to appear at Court.
A force of 6000 men under the command of Faulcon was sent to force his submission. This body of troops ought to have been more than sufficient to crush a handful of undisciplined men, but the Macassars are the bravest and most determined of the Eastern races. Energetic and fearless in danger, they despise luxurious habits that sap vitality and extinguish all sparks of courage.
On hearing the trumpets sounding the attack, they maddened themselves with drugs and in a blind frenzy of passion fell upon the foe. Faulcon, who relied on strategy more than on numerical superiority, embarked in a ship with an Englishman the captain of a war-vessel stationed at the bar of the river. He was accompanied by a missionary and several Europeans who were more reliable than the Siamese who trembled at the mere mention of the name of the enemy.
The captain of the guard at, the head of fourteen slaves, made an advance in the direction of the Macassar camp, without taking precautions to cover his retreat. A Macassar with thirty men springing from an ambush fell upon them and slew the captain and seven of the slaves. The remainder of the party fled in the darkness. At the same time the English captain of the war vessel made an attack on the extreme point of the camp. Their musketry fire riddled the Macassar huts and caused the inmates to beat a hasty retreat. The captain, followed by a dozen Englishmen and a French officer pursued them. The Macassars turned at bay and then with a haughty defiance, advanced, armed with their daggers, determined neither to ask nor to give quarter. The English captain fell dead on the scene of the combat, his companions fled in terror, and the French officer had to swim for his life.