82 SOOLOISLANDS. 



tween two and three inches long, oval, and contaunng a krge- 



nut. 



The third is La Houette, tab. 90, a very lofty tree. 

 SooLo Isles. BETWEEN the" fouth end of Mindanao, and the north-eail 



point of Borneo, is a chain of fmall ifles, extending about two 

 hundred miles in length, called the Soolo, from the name of the 

 chief ifland. The principal was about the middle of this cen- 

 tury governed by a fultan, according to M. Sonnerat, the very 

 counterpart of Feter the Great ; endowed with the fame abilities, 

 the fame thirft after knowlege, and the fame ambition of ap- 

 plying it to the improvement of his fubjeds. Like Peter, he 

 quitted his throne, and took to travelling during feveral years. 

 He went afterwards to Batavia, where he concealed his name and 

 quality, and affociated himfelf with the common failors to learn 

 their bufinefs. He next changed his company for that of the 

 carpenters, to be inftrudled in their art. He bought tools of all 

 forts, and inftruments of hufbandry, and then returned to his 

 throne. Still he wilhed for more intelledlual improvement ; 

 failed for Mecca to learn the law of Mahomet'^ made himfelf 

 mafter of the Arabic tongue, brought home the ufe of let- 

 ters, and introduced money, the firll ever known in the 

 iflands. 



This monarch obtained poffeffion by conqviefl of a fmall part 

 of Borneo next to his dominions, which involved him in a quar- 

 rel with fome Dutch, who pretended they were allies to the 

 Bornoefe. Our prince found he never could be a match for thefe 

 people without the ufe of fire-arms. He fitted out a few fliips, 

 loaded them with articles of commerce, and failed to Manilla, in 

 § order 



