220 The Gardens of the Sun. [ch. xi. 



to be much improved under Spanish rule. And yet we 

 must never forget that it is a time-honoured institution, 

 and is not, to say the least, more objectionable than poly- 

 andry as practised among the tribes who live on the 

 banks of the Upper Jumna and Upper Ganges. Poly- 

 gamy is sanctioned by custom, and " custom is religion 

 in the East." Each Mahomedan is permitted to have 

 four wives. Before Ave blame a religion so Avide spread 

 and poAverful, however, Ave must not forget that it is a 

 religion which practically preserves its millions of fol- 

 loAvers from other forms of intemperance, and notably 

 from the use of intoxicating liquors, that great bane of 

 many Englishmen everywhere, and especially of many of 

 those aa'Iio live in the Eastern tropics. 



The language spoken in Sulu, notwithstanding that it 

 contains many Malay words and others of Arabic origin, 

 is yet practically very distinct, approaching much more 

 nearly that spoken by the inland tribes of Northern 

 Borneo. In physique and bold fearless bearing there is 

 also a striking resemblance betAveen the north Borneans 

 and the Sulus, Avhile both races display the same acute- 

 ness, mingled Avith suspicion, in all matters of trade. So 

 striking is the resemblance in physique, language, and 

 conduct, as to suggest the possibility of their haA'ing 

 originally descended from one common stock, and I am 

 inclined to think that the same language Avas used by 

 them before the advent of the noAv dominant Malays, aa-Iio 

 had Arabic blood in their veins, and to whom is doubtless 

 due the introduction of the Arabic character and Islamism, 

 and Avhose language is uoav the lingua franca of Malasia. 

 The government of the island, although in a great mea- 

 sure in the hands of the Sultan, can scarcely be called 

 despotic, since the people are represented in the council 

 chamber, or " ruma bichari," by their Datus or headmen, 



