The Macassars deserted their ruined camp and endeavoured to reach the Portuguese quarter in order to make a furious attack on the Christians. Faulcon seeing their plan, made arrangements to circumvent it; and, followed by eight Frenchmen, two Siamese and one Japanese, unwisely made a frontal attack. He advanced, but the enemy had formed up in two parties to cut off his retreat. Maddened by their drugs, they fell upon his little band like hungry tigers upon their prey and Faulcon seeing that he was in danger of being overwhelmed by numbers, beat a hurried retreat after losing half of his men.
It was evident that the attack must be made more warily and that it was useless to imagine that mere force of numbers would be sufficient to crush them. Faulcon rallied his whole army and fell upon the foe who fought with the courage born of despair. At length the Macassars, overwhelmed by numbers, retired, some to their huts and others behind hedges of bamboos. Twenty two of their number took refuge in a temple and resolved to bury themselves in its ruins. The huts were fired, but the Macassars did not emerge from them until, they were nearly burnt. Then to cut short the agony, they rushed forward sword in hand on the pikes of their foes and fought till they died pierced through and through, The Macassar Prince, wounded by a ball in the shoulder, perceived Faulcon, the man whom he considered to be his most dangerous enemy. The thirst of revenge lent him strength, and mad with rage, he advanced on his hated rival, but as he was in the act of striking with his javelin; he was shot by a French soldier.
Those who had taken refuge in the temple, surrendered without striking a blow. Thirty three more who had been severely wounded were taken prisoners. One of the sons of the Prince, a boy of 12 years of age, implored the mercy of the conqueror. He was shown his father's corpse. "Alas," he exclaimed "he was the cause of our country's miseries, but I feel his loss none the less keenly."
A few remarks on these curious people might be made here. It is quite a novelty to find in an enervating climate, such an example of ferocity. The Macassars have no knowledge of fire-arms and they regard them as detrimental to personal prowess, because they render modes of attack by bodily strength of no avail. Besides this type of weapon hinders the user from tasting the fruits of vengeance and leaves him ignorant of the number of the slain. On the other hand, this dislike for fire arms may be due to the fact that they do not know how to use them, as they would have to surrender their superiority in the art of hurling lances and assegais. They show the greatest skill in the use of the sword and dagger, and they employ long blow pipes from which they shoot arrows tipped with a poisoned fish-bone. Whoever is struck by one of these deadly missiles has not more than three hours to live.
Forbin cites an example of their intrepidity. One of these fanatics was making a rush at him and he stopped him by a spear thrust in the abdomen, but the Macassar, although mortally wounded was still anxious to have his revenge. He continued to press forward on the spear, so as to reach Forbin, who, stepping backwards, still holding him off by the spear with which he had impaled him; gave time for others to come to his assistance, and slay the Macassar. Especially when they were subjected to tortures they evinced the greatest firmness of demeanour.
Amongst the prisoners were found four soldiers who had deserted, and these men were selected to serve as an example of severity. At first they were tortured. Splinters were thrust under their nails, after which their fingers were crushed. They were then burnt in the arm and their heads were compressed between two boards. They suffered all these torments without a murmur. A missionary thought that, exhausted by torture, they would be easy subjects for conversion and approached to lead them to Jesus Christ, but the victims deaf to their entreaties gave no sign save those of pride in the fact they knew how to die. After having been tortured in every possible way, they were tied up to a post with their hands and feet bound in order to be devoured by a hungry tiger that merely sniffed at them. The executioners goaded on the tiger until it at last devoured its prey. One of the prisoners watched it eat his own foot without making any effort to withdraw it. Another hearing the crunching of his own bones, uttered no sound. A third, while the animal stood licking the blood which was running down his face did not even care to glance round. The King of Siam spared the lives of the two sons of the Macassar Prince. They were sent to Louvo under the charge of a Christian, from Constantinople, who had entered the Siamese service, and, later, they went to France where they served in the navy. Faulcon had the bodies of all the rebels found armed decapitated and exposed the heads in the then deserted encampment. The English and French who had shared the dangers and who had been instrumental in his success were loaded with honours and presents.
CHAPTER IV.
THE REVOLUTION THAT BROUGHT ABOUT THE DOWNFALL OF FAULCON AND THE FRENCH.
Whilst Faulcon was doing his best to ensure the prosperity of the state, the nobles, jealous of his power and influence were humiliated by having to be subservient to a foreigner. The priests discredited, and without the enjoyment of Court favour, saw to their sorrow a minister, who despised their religion and set an example to the nation of forsaking their gods and superstitions. The common people, blind to common sense, and ready to follow any leader as foolish as themselves, espoused the cause of the priests who, to promote the cause of Heaven, sowed dissensions broadcast. Kings ought to have learnt by experience that when a people is discontented, an ambitious man is all that is required to make it rebellious. A single man suffices to instil into dull minds the fact that union is strength, and to cause them to pass from the ignominy of slavery to the desire for freedom.
The Siamese people, who were murmuring in secret, only awaited a leader to break out in revolt. Men of all conditions yearned for a deliverer and any ambitious personage had a chance of assuming this imposing title.