116 DALRYMPLE. [1844. 



dery ; and around his waist was a broad band of gold 

 lace, attached in the centre by a large ornamental clasp of 

 gold, set with stones. He rose, and, extending his 

 hand to welcome me, motioned to be seated in the chair 

 opposite to him. He appeared to be about five feet ten, 

 very emaciated, with a heavy countenance exhibiting 

 traces of imbecility; forehead narrow, face large, and 

 evidently suffering under weakness arising from excessive 

 indulgence in the use of opium. They affected to believe 

 that I was a descendant of Dalrymple, to whose memory 

 they appear to attach great respect. During his visit to 

 Sooloo he acquired the friendship of the Sultan, Ali- 

 mudin, about that period restored by the English to his 

 Sovereignty over these islands, and pledged each other as 

 brothers, by the ceremony of drawing blood from the 

 arm of each and mixing it in glasses. By this solemn 

 act Dalrymple became a sharer of the Sultan's power, 

 and the Island of Toolyan, in the eastern bay, was 

 ceded to him ; even now they considered it so entirely 

 British property, that the Sultan, learning my wish to 

 visit it, offered to send a person with me to inspect it. 



Beyond this our interview with the Sultan was limited 

 to a communication I thought it necessary to make on the 

 subject of the frequent resort of the Ballignini Pirates to 

 his ports, and the facilities he afforded them of effecting 

 the sale of their captured slaves in the markets of Sooloo. 

 I further gave him to understand, that if it should be 

 found that he furnished them shelter, under pursuit, it 

 would entail severe retribution from the British Flag; 

 he promised his attention to this subject, and that he 

 would inquire into the facts which I then detailed to 



