128 Pearls. 



extinct volcanoes of considerable height, and the 

 very extensive clearings which have been made for 

 the cultivation of hill-paddy (rice), give a charming 

 park-like appearance to the landscape. 



The soil is of the richest volcanic nature, and 

 here the delicate cacao tree {Theobroma Cacao) 

 flourishes, undisturbed by the devastating hurricanes 

 and volcanic eruptions, that from time to time 

 spread such disaster in the Phillipines and in 

 Java. 



At Maimbung, the native capital, the Sultan 

 of Sooloo resides, but his authority over the people 

 is very slight. He claims sovereignty over and 

 receives tribute from, the islands of Palawan and 

 Balabac ; but his rights over Sabah, a large territory 

 in North Borneo, have been ceded to the British 

 North Borneo Company for the trivial sum of 

 5,000 dollars per annum, including his share in the 

 birds'-nest caves. This is considerably less than his 

 original income from the territory, and there is but 

 little doubly that when this concession was granted 

 the Sultan fully expected to receive help from the 

 English nation to rid himself of his enemies, the 

 Spaniards. The presence of the Governor of the 

 British Colony of Labuan at Maimbung during the 

 negociation of the concession, would naturally 



