130 Pearls. 



Borneo Company. It is only within the last year 

 or two that Spain has renounced this latter claim, 

 and England and Germany have formally recognised 

 the sovereign rights of Spain in Sooloo, a certain 

 freedom of trade being, however, provided for. 



The Spaniards have a walled settlement on the 

 nortli side of the island of Sooloo, called Jolo or 

 Tiangi. It is situated on a swamp, that causes 

 great mortality in the town. There is a garrison of 

 800 soldiers, besides a large number of convicts from 

 the Philippines, and the Spanish officers serving 

 there receive extra pay, as if on active service. 

 There are three other Spanish occupations in the 

 Archipelago, all of the very smallest dimensions, 

 but sufficient for the purpose. Several gun-boats 

 are also kept there. 



Up to the present time, but little or no inter- 

 course has taken place between the natives and the 

 alien race. The few opportunities of conciliation, 

 such as the famine of 1879, and the outbreak of 

 cholera in 1882, have been allowed by the Spaniards 

 to slip by neglected, and a bitter hatred now exists 

 against them, which will probably never be thoroughly 

 overcome. This is exhibited occasionally in savage, 

 bloodthirsty outrages, which — however they may 

 be condemned by Europeans — will always be 



