S O O L O I S L A N D S. ^^ 



which obliges the inhabitants to have recourfe to agriculture in 

 a far greater degree than others of the adjacent ifles ; the whole 

 chain is faid to have fixty thoufand inhabitants : the foil is very- 

 fertile, and productive of moft of the tropical fruits ; teek trees 

 abound here. The rainy feafon is very uncertain, for which 

 reafon the crops of rice cannot be depended on ; yams, potatoes, 

 and other efculents, are cultivated to fupply the defea. The na- 

 tives nave learned the art of engrafting from the Chineje fettled 

 among them. Mr. Forrejl fays that the cinnamon tree is found 

 amoiigft thefe iflands. 



The Soolos are a poliflied people, probably from the examples Natives. 

 of their two monarchs : both fexes drefs with elegance ; they are 

 fond of mufic and dancing. Sultan Ifrael and his niece, could 

 perform a tolerable minuet, and fome of the people of falhion 

 could go down a country dance. They have many flaves, to 

 whom they are faid to be very cruel, and befides are reckoned 

 perfidious in their general dealings. 



Another chain of iflands, of far greater length than the for- Sangir. 

 mer, runs from the weftern cape of Mindanao quite to the moft 

 eaftern cape of the great ifland of Celebes ; the chief of which is 

 Sangujan or Sangir^ between Lat. 3° 30' and 4° 30' north; moft 

 of them are inhabited, and governed by their chieftains*. The 

 Butch have now poffeffion of Sangir, and fome others, as out- 

 guards to the 7^/9/ ifles. Thefe, part of Mindanao, the Sooh iflcs, 

 Borneo, and Celebes^ bound a great and open gulph, of clear na- 

 vigation. 



Celebes ox Macajfar QXterid?, north and fouth between Lat. i" Celebes or 



Macassar. 

 * Forrefl-jp. 310. 



55' north, 



