OCCUPATION OF SOOLOO. [1845. 



a few observations taken from a recent Spanish work on 

 the Philippines, 'History of Manila? 1842. 



As the following extracts are translated from a lan- 

 guage in which some of the idiomatic phrases are very 

 peculiarly expressed, and can only be properly under- 

 stood in the original, I have merely to offer to my 

 readers the general meaning of the matter made use of as 

 relates to the islands of Sooloo and Balambangan, placed 

 in comparison with the extract from Dalrymple, both 

 bearing on the relations of Great Britain with Sooloo. 



Speaking of the attack of the English forces, under 

 Admiral Drake and General Draper, in 1753, the writer 

 goes on to observe : " The King of Sooloo, who was 

 defending a position with the people of his tribe, 

 delivered himself up a prisoner. The English fortified it 

 and maintained it until the peace. 



" We have already seen that Alimudin shewed himself 

 inclined towards the Spaniards in this affair of the war 

 with the English, probably because he perceived some 

 booty or prize fall into the hands of Great Britain which 

 he coveted himself. 



" The Commander of the British Expedition on with- 

 drawing his forces from Manila, offered him his protec- 

 tion, which he accepted, embarking with the English 

 Admiral, who sailed from Manila, with part of his 

 squadron and troops, which had been disembarked. 



"The Admiral arrived at Sooloo, and having been de- 

 tained some time there, succeeded in obtaining from 

 Bantilan, the Sultan, the cession of the Island of Balam- 

 bangan to the English East India Company, believing 

 that having once gained a footing there, he could easily 



