288 TWO FACTIONS. [1845. 



every argument in his power to redeem the evil impres- 

 sion resulting from the conduct of Canceli. 



At that period there were two factions amongst the 

 chiefs of Sooloo ; one party for the Spaniards, the other 

 for the English. The latter were bought by their presents ; 

 the others were composed of those who possessed more 

 independence and amor patrice-, they knew that the 

 vicinity of the English would in the end prove their 

 inevitable ruin ; and, on the other hand, that they had 

 nothing to fear from the Spaniards. In this party were 

 Israel and his father. Alimudin, on account of age, had 

 abdicated his throne in favour of his son, who, when a 

 child, had been at Manila with his father, had been 

 educated in the college of San Jose with the Jesuits, and 

 spoke Spanish. The Sultan was much pleased on 

 reading the letters of his friend, the Governor of Zam- 

 boanga, notwithstanding that the Datoos in the English 

 interest answered them in rather an angry manner. This 

 is literally their letter. 



" This is the answer which we the Datoos, illustrious 

 councillors of the kingdom of Sooloo, give to Don 

 Raimundo Espafiol. As regards the letter, which the 

 two Ambassadors delivered, we must say, that we our- 

 selves act with honour, and do not require any foreigners 

 to direct our concerns, because we are not quite children 

 at the breast (' Ninos de teta'}. Above all things, we 

 pray, that the Being who occupies heaven and earth, and 

 governs the wills of the living, may preserve you many 

 years." 



The English invited and admitted the people of Sooloo 

 to Balambangan, but punished them when they committed 



