Chapter VIII: 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