CHAPTER VIII

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THE SULU ARCHIPELAGO.

FIRST VISIT.

Picturesque Islands--Balambañgan--An old English Settlement--Large Monkeys--Optical Illusions--Flights of Birds--The Curlew--The way we shot them in Sarawak--Game--Banguey--Mali Wali--Cleared Hills--Fine Water--Sweet-smelling Jasmine--Cagayan Sulu--Intercourse with the Inhabitants--Appearance of the Country--Lovely Scenery--Market--Inhabitants--Insolent Traders--The Crater Harbour--Wall of Evergreen--Inner Lake--Climb the Cliff--Scenery--Alligators numerous--Sulu--Appearance from the Ship--Sugh, the Capital--Mr. Wyndham--The Watering-place--Suspicious Natives--Fugitives from Balignini--Reports--A Market--The Mountaineers civil--Walk to the Palace--The Stockades--Armed Crowd--Audience Hall--Absurd Reports--The Sultan and his Nobles--Dress--Politeness of the Sultan--Return to the Ship--Datu Daniel--The Racecourse--Effect of Dutch Shot--Tulyan Bay--Alarm of Villagers--Sulu Government--Laws--Feuds--The Mahomedan and the Pork--Population--Fighting-men--Slave Market--Dignified carriage of the Nobles--Dress--The Balignini--Dutch Attack--Appearance of the Country--Good position of Island--Tulyan--Basilan--Numerous Islets--Samboañgan --Spanish Convict Settlement--Description of Country--Fort--Town--Shops--The Church--The Men--The Women--The Corner Shop--A Ball--Dancing difficult--Waltzes--Supplies at Saraboañgan--A lonely Grave 178

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