124 SLAVE MARKETS. [1846- 



by the Illations on the coasts of the Bisayas, are to be 

 found, and from this point westerly, as well as southerly, 

 they are distributed along the coast. There is also 

 another port, Tooncoo, on the southern side of Unsang, 

 where a considerable slave market is held, but this is 

 considered so completely a pirate den, that no traders 

 venture there. 



When piracy ceases upon these coasts, and Labuan 

 offers similar advantages for trading, as Singapore, Tam- 

 bisan may become an important intermediate position, as 

 the southern rivers would find there a mart for their 

 goods without the risk and tediousness of the Singapore 

 voyage. 



The establishment of a British post or colony on any 

 part of the northern shores of Borneo, will not, I suspect, 

 induce any of the native Authorities to send their pro- 

 duce thither for sale. At Maludu Bay, in particular, 

 the destruction of Seriff Housman has deprived the 

 people of that region, of the only energetic ruler who 

 could have afforded protection to European traders. The 

 natural feeling of enmity towards the nation which has 

 punished them so severely, is likely to continue for some 

 time, and Bugis and Malay influence will, for a long 

 period, prevent our countrymen from any intercourse 

 with the interior of this region. With regard to Balabac, 

 and the islands northward, towards Manila, they are but 

 thinly inhabited, by a similar race to those of Banguey, 

 and are so averse to communication with foreigners, that 

 they could only be dealt with through the objectionable 

 intervention of Malay or Bugis agents. 



The produce of this trade would be chiefly confined to 



