1845.] HISTORY OF THE ILLANONS. 263 



friend Captain Villavicentio, Commandant of the Arsenal 

 of Cavite, and to whom I am indebted for much valuable 

 information, relative to the whole of the coasts within the 

 Mindoro and Sooloo Archipelago, as well as for great per- 

 sonal kindness arid attention experienced during our visit 

 to Manila. Captain Villavicentio received his promotion 

 about the y.ear 1838, for his gallantry displayed during 

 his employment in the suppression of piracy amongst the 

 southern Philippine Group. 



The lllanons, commonly termed by the Spaniards 

 Lanoons, and los Moros, are a distinct race, inhabiting 

 the great Bay of Illanon, on the southern part of Ma- 

 geendanao, or Mindanao, having for its capital the city 

 of Mindanao, where the Sultan resides, and where, even 

 in the pirates' nest, Europeans and other traders meet 

 with hospitable reception and protection ! The shores of 

 this immense bay, the eastern arm of which forms a pen- 

 insula with a very narrow neck, is closely wooded with 

 Mangroves, running out, in most instances, into six or 

 nine feet water, arid affording sudden shelter, or conceal- 

 ment, to vessels drawing about six feet water. These 

 trees, springing from roots which firmly support their main 

 trunks, at a height of seven or eight feet above the flow of 

 high water, cover the swampy ground which intervenes 

 between them and a spacious Lagoon. It is this Lagoon 

 which is the stronghold of the Lanoon pirates, and gives 

 to them the appellation of " Los Illanos de la Laguna " ; 

 where, it is highly probable, they submit to their own 

 pirate Chief, and who, acknowledging the supremacy of 

 the Sultan of Mindanao, shields the latter from blame by 

 this semblance of independence ; it is well known, how- 



