THE PIIILirPINE ISLANDS 95 



Along the eastern coast, especially iu its southern portion, 

 many Sulus have established themselves, most of them 

 being refugees from the pirate haunts of Sulu and Min- 

 danao, Inland are Dusun and Murut Dyaks, and to the 

 north a people of uncertain race, probably a mixture of 

 Dyaks and Bisayans — the Tagbuanas — interesting as 

 being an almost savage people who possess a peculiar 

 alphabet, somewhat similar to that once used by the 

 Bisayans, but distinct (see Marche, Luzon et Palaoan, p. 

 327). Negritos are said to exist. 



The only place upon the island which can really be 

 said to be occupied by the Spaniards is Puerto Princesa, 

 better known to the English as Port-Eoyalist, an excel- 

 lent harbour on the east coast. Here is a convict 

 settlement, looked after by two companies of a native 

 regiment, a small arsenal, and a slip, and two gunboats 

 are stationed at the port, which boasts of one of the few 

 lighthouses existent in the Philippines. Tai-tai, at the 

 north of the island, has been almost deserted by the 

 Spaniards on account of its unhealthiness. 



There are few or no roads in Palawan except that 

 crossing to Ulugan Bay, and very little is done in the way 

 of trade or agriculture. Such trade as there is consists 

 chiefly of forest and sea produce, and is in the hands of 

 a few Chinamen on the east coast. But even these do 

 not obtain their goods direct from the natives, but 

 through the Sulus, who act as middlemen, and not in- 

 frequently make a more rapid profit by murdering the 

 Chinese and sacking their stores. Dumaran Island, to 

 the north, was once covered with pine plantations, but 

 a few years ago these were completely destroyed by a 

 plague of rats. 



On Balabac Island, to the south of Palawan, the 

 Spanish have established an agricultural convict colony, 



