1846.] VISIT FROM THE SULTAN. 137 



that Dalrymple should have overlooked the fine harbour of 

 Ambong affording shelter to Ships of the Line ; but as 

 his communications were chiefly confined to Malay in- 

 terests it is probable that they prevented his coming into 

 contact with the Idaan *, or Dusun tribes of this region. 



During our visit to Abai River, the Sultan of Tampas- 

 sook came thither, by sea, to meet us, and accepted my 

 invitation to visit the ' Samarang ' on the following day. 

 During his visit he endeavoured to impress on me the 

 advantage of procuring our supplies, &c., from Tampas- 

 sook, but on comparing the prices, which he wished paid 

 in silver, we found that every article would be about 400 

 per cent dearer than at Ambong. He appeared very 

 jealous about our preference for Ambong, and when in- 

 formed of the lower prices at that port, I could perceive 

 his Malay spirit rise, and his eyes flashing revenge as he 

 observed to his Prime Minister "and yet these very 

 cattle come from our city." He was accompanied by a 

 slave, a native of Luzon, who had been kidnapped by the 

 Illations, at Ilo Ilo, and sold here for twenty-five dollars. 



This man having stated his case to me, and asked for 

 protection, was informed that he was free, but as he pre- 

 ferred returning with the Sultan, and making his escape 

 by canoe, he was permitted to take his course, his prin- 

 cipal object being, as I understood, to obtain rice to 

 maintain him. After many friendly expressions from the 



* Dalrymple in describing the Idaan, makes use of the following : 



" There is a race of people in some part of the Sooloo dominions on 



Borneo, so peculiar in customs and opinions that they claim particular 



attention ; these are called Idaan. It is proper, however, to observe, 



that what I know of them is only from the reports of the Soolooit" 



