362 BAS1LAN. 



them is ever right. Many a true tale of the crews of 

 merchantmen, slaughtered in cold blood by these merci- 

 less freebooters, that constitute the curse of Malayan Asia, 

 might be mentioned in confirmation of this sad truth. 



On the 2 1st of April, 1844, we touched at Basilan, 

 which we also again visited in March, 1845, and March, 

 1846, on which last occasion I had an opportunity of 

 catching a glimpse of some of the scenery of the island, 

 and thus it happened. 



While lying off Passan, a new establishment of the 

 Spaniards on the island, I had occasion to visit the 

 Commandante, who was very ill of fever and dysentery, 

 and after doing him all the good in my power, I was 

 persuaded to remain and spend the day with the 

 Officers in their newly-erected wooden castle. After 

 partaking of a capital dinner, where wine and choice 

 liqueurs were not wanting, on my expressing a wish to 

 obtain some specimens of the Flying-Poxes, which are 

 very numerous in the island, a little expedition was im- 

 mediately planned, and, in a very short time, a strong 

 party of us started on foot, armed with fowling-pieces, 

 into the interior of the forest behind the fort ; and I 

 confess I was amused at the very motley group we 

 formed. One Spanish gentleman, very stout and with 

 enormous moustaches, wore a huge " Sombrero," and 

 carried a thick club-shaped stick ; another, a shrivelled 

 little man, with a sharp nose, was dressed in white, even 

 to his hat, which was made of thin pith, 'and covered with 

 white calico ; another carried two guns, and was dressed 

 like a sporting gentleman on the first of September ; while 

 another wore a loose blouse, and a wide-brimmed straw 

 hat. 



