780 Information regarding Illanoon Pirates. [Nov. 



falucas, or (gun-boat launches) succeed in capturing any of the " Illa- 

 nos." Two of them however were surprised and secured in the early- 

 part of this year, and their crews amounting together to about sixty 

 were in prison at Manilla. As they were not captured in any act of 

 piracy they are merely kept as prisoners, but what their ultimate des- 

 tination may be I know not. 



The distance to which the " Illanos" extend their cruizes is shewn from 

 the late capture off Tringana : but I was much surprised, when pointing 

 this out on the chart to the Spanish officers abovementioned, at their 

 assuring me, that they had no doubt the pirates made their round south 

 of Borneo to the coast of Statu ; that there is a pirate tribe on the north 

 end of Borneo, daring and atrocious as themselves, between whom and 

 the " Illanos" exists, and always has existed, a most deadly and unex- 

 tinguishable enmity, and that the latter will never pass by the northern 

 route. If these two tribes of depredators do meet, a most sanguinary 

 conflict ensues, and I was assured, that either of them will even quit 

 their plunder to attack the other, and thus prefer the gratification of 

 feelings of hatred and hostility. The object from which the " Illanos" 

 derive their principal booty in their cruizes, is the captives they make 

 and sell on all parts of the eastern and southern coasts of Borneo, and 

 in the Macassar straits. To this they principally direct their attention, 

 after they have supplied themselves with a sufficient number to pull at 

 the oar and do the other work of their prahus. 



They seldom cumber themselves with any thing from the cargo of a 

 capture, save gold dust or other valuable goods. 



Though other descriptions of pirates infest those seas, the " Illanos" 

 are always known from the peculiar construction and dexterous manage- 

 ment of their prahus. A drawing of one of them was shewn to me, 

 which minutely corresponded with the description given of the one cap- 

 tured off Tringana. 



It has been supposed that these " Illanos" are subject to and act 

 under the directions of the raja of Sooloo, but I was most positively 

 assured by the Spanish officers mentioned above, as also by His Excel- 

 lency Don Andres Garcia Camber, governor of Manilla, that such 

 is not the case. Captain Don Jose Arconi has had some communica- 

 tion with the raja of Sooloo, and is acquainted with his situation, his 

 means and his habits. He assured me that the raja had neither means, 

 power, nor influence over these " Illanos ;" that they are a race purely 

 piratical, of a distinct community of wild ranging predatory habits, 

 dependent on no one, and acknowledging no external authority. It is 

 true they frequent the island of Sooloo as they please, quite unmolested, 



