25G THE TROPICAL WORLD. 



well be expected to flourish under the Upas trees of Portuguese 

 intolerance, Dutch oppression, and British apathy.' 



Essentially maritime in their tastes, the Malays have been 

 named the Phoenicians of the East ; but not satisfied with the 

 peaceful pursuits of the fisherman or the merchant, many of 

 them infest the Indian Ocean as merciless pirates. 



Encouraged by the weakness and distraction of the old- 

 established Malay governments, the facilities offered by natural 

 situation, and the total absence of all restraint from European 

 nations, except now and then the destruction of some mud fort 

 or bamboo-village, which is soon rebuilt, the Illanuns, the 

 Balagnini, and other sea-robbing tribes, issue forth like beasts 

 of prey, enslave or murder the inhabitants on the coasts or 

 at the entrance of rivers, and attack ill-armed or stranded 

 European vessels. 



The Illanuns of Mindanao are particularly noted for their 

 daring and long-protracted piratical excursions, which they 

 undertake in large junks with sails, netting, and heavy guns. 

 On one occasion the ' Eajah Brooke ' met eighteen Illanun 

 boats on neutral ground, and learned from their two chiefs that 

 they had been two years absent from home ; and from the 

 Papuan slaves on board it was evident that their cruise had 

 extended from the most eastern islands of the Archipelago to 

 the north-western coast of Borneo. 



The Balagnini inhabit a cluster of small islands in the 

 vicinity of Sooloo, where they probably find encouragement 

 and a slave market. They cruise in large prahus, and to each 

 of these a fleet boat or ' sampan ' is attached, which on occasion 

 can carry from ten to fifteen men. They seldom have large 

 guns like the Illanuns, but, in addition to their other arms, 

 brass pieces, carrying from a one- to a three-pound ball. They 

 use long poles with barbed iron points, with which, during an 

 engagement or flight, they hook their prey. By means of their 

 sampans they are able to capture all small boats ; and it is a 

 favourite device with them to disguise one or two men, whilst 

 the rest lie concealed in the bottom of the boat, and thus to 

 surprise prahus at sea, and fishermen or others at the mouths 

 of rivers. Their cruising grounds are very extensive ; they 

 frequently make the circuit of Borneo ; Gillolo and the Moluccas 

 lie within their range, and it is probable that Papua is 



i 



