454 THE SOOLOO ISLANDS. [1842. 



the straits of Mindoro, the tender directed her course to- 

 wards Singapore, and the Vincennes bore away for the 

 Sooloo archipelago, the survey of which, as far as was prac- 

 ticable, was one of the objects of the expedition; and on the 

 3d day of February she came to anchor in Soung Harbor, 

 at the island of Sooloo, in latitude G° 01' N. and longitude 

 120° 55' 51" E. 



The Sooloo Islands extend in a north-easterly direction, 

 between the 4th and 7th parallels of north latitude, and 

 120° and 123° eastern longitude. There are about sixty 

 different islands, in the centre of which is Sooloo, the largest 

 and most important, like a hen in the midst of her brood. 

 The population of the group is about one hundred and thirty 

 thousand. The inhabitants are of the Malay race. Their 

 complexion is of a light tawny color, and their hair black, 

 soft, and thick. They are tall, and .well-formed, and have 

 tolerably fine features. In character they are not courageous, 

 yet they are confirmed thieves and pirates. They are pas- 

 sionate and treacherous, and much addicted to sensual pleas- 

 ures, and to smoking opium and chewing the betel nut. 

 Most of them are Mohammedans, and their sovereign is called 

 a sultan ; his authority is limited, however, by the power and 

 influence possessed by the subordinate chiefs, who are called 

 datus. 



In their manners and customs the Sooloos differ but little 

 from the other nations in the East. Indies. They build their 

 houses of bamboo, elevated on poles if near the water side, 

 or imbosomed amid thickets of cocoas. Their dress resem- 

 bles that of the Chinese, consisting in the main of loose 

 calico gowns, silk sashes, wide breeches and slippers; the 

 attire of a man not being considered complete unless he has 

 a huge kreese, or knife, stuck in his belt, in a wooden scab- 

 bard. Polygamy is not generally practiced, though t\\c sul- 

 tan has a number of wives of whom In: is quite proud. The 

 women are not generally celebrated for \\w\r chastity, yet it 

 is said that they possess great influence over their husbands. 



Sago is one of the principal products of the islands, and 



