270 TRADE WITH SINGAPORE. [1845. 



Balabac, on the north, and the whole eastern coasts 

 southerly, as far as Benjarmassim. These, although I 

 have heard strong assertion to the contrary, I know, from 

 sound information, as well as personal experience, to be 

 connected \^ family ties, and although petty wars have 

 occurred amongst them, still, upon any great question, 

 they will unite, and act, under any great Illation Chief. 

 They have been traced along the whole coast of Borneo, 

 into the Archipelago off the Malay peninsula, and I am 

 credibly informed (indeed I had it from a Chief, whom 

 I believe to be a Pirate leader) that they trade to Singa- 

 pore, leaving their war boats at the Natunas, or Anambas. 

 The Spaniards, and, I believe, the British Government, 

 also, still labour under the impression, that the Sultan of 

 Sooloo has power over, and acts in concert with, all these 

 pirates. I have taken very great pains to arrive at the 

 proof of any such fact, and my conviction is, that he has 

 not the power. He is too weak to oppose the interest of 

 some of his Datoos, or leading Chiefs, who exhibit much 

 greater interest in the success of the pirates ; they partici- 

 pate in the profits, are receivers of, and traffic in \heplunder, 

 and will afford them every assistance in their power. 

 But this applies only to a particular set, at the head of which 

 is, probably, the present Prime Minister, Datoo Muluk, 

 as arrant a rogue as any in Sooloo ; he and the opium 

 smokers are the supporters of piracy. The other party, 

 headed by Datoo Dacola, Datoo Danielle, and their con- 

 nexion, are as anxious for its suppression. I have reason 

 to know, from my communications with the Spanish 

 Authorities, with the Sultan of Sooloo, and Datoo 

 Danielle, assisted by Mr. Wyndham, the resident at 



