BY THE REV. J. E. TENISON-WOODS. 629 



with 3,000 inhabitants ; Maibiin on the south with 1,500, which 

 is the residence of the sultan ; and in the centre Siang with 800 

 inhabitants. The seat of the Spanish government is called by 

 the name of the island and is on the north side. It is a very bad 

 anchorage, the water being so deep that there are only one or two 

 places where large vessels can be secured, and these unpleasantly 

 near the shore. 



All the towns in Sulu bear a family likeness to Brunei in 

 Borneo. They are all built on the piratical lines of the Bajows or 

 sea-gipsies, that is nearly wholly over the water on high bamboo 

 stakes. The capital, as we may call Sulu, has a pretty appearance 

 from the water's edge, with the usual Spanish campaiiero and small 

 dome over the church. But Sulu is strictly speaking a military 

 establishment. The military hospital lines the wharf, and the 

 military barracks, with customs' departments of course, form the 

 frontage of buildings, with large convict barracks as well. For 

 it is also a convict establishment. Long-sentenced native prisoners 

 are brought here from all the Philippines, but the poor easy-going 

 Philippine Indian is not, even as a convict, a reprobate. The 

 Spanish government reposes the highest confidence in him. On 

 his arrival at Sulu he is put into uniform, supplied with an old 

 percussion firelock, with a bayonet of soft and easy temper like his 

 own, and thus more than 2,000 convicts co-operate as auxiliaries 

 to the Spanish garrison. Beyond the military and prison establish- 

 ments there are a few nice streets and squares passably built, and 

 very tastefully adorned with gardens. Here, also, may be found 

 a market, a few shops and some larger Chinese stores where the 

 merchandise of pearls is carried on. Beyond this a strong wall 

 of fortification completely encloses the place. Three miles further 

 is a line of outposts, with towers of observation, for in fact the 

 Spanish foothold is as yet only precarious and the place is held like 

 a beleaguered city. 



The liistory of the struggle between Spain and the Moros or 

 pirates of Sulu dates back over 300 years, and until very lately 

 the Moros had the best of it, and kept to their islands and their 

 predatory habits. If Spain had had a good or strong government, 



