1838.] Information regarding Illanoon Pirates. 981 



and without hindrance, as well as the other innumerable islands and 

 mangrove banks (called by us the Sooloo islands), supposed to be sub- 

 ject to the raja's sovereignty. One of these, called " Bang een ghee" 

 eastward of Sooloo, is a principal resort for them, as it affords conveni- 

 ence and facility for their piratical pursuits. It is principally mangrove 

 growing upon coral banks, and is well calculated for protection and 

 secure concealment. 



I was informed by Don Jose Arconi, that he had witnessed at one 

 time nearly two hundred " Illano" prahus, great and small, off this is- 

 land, and on attempting to chase them with his " Falucas," they out- 

 stripped all pursuit, and disappeared in the most extraordinary manner, 

 dousing masts and sails, and taking refuge among the mangroves. 

 He compared these haunts to extensive nests, or banks of rats, where 

 they can fly from one refuge to another, and which no means, we Euro- 

 peans here possess, could ever succeed in annihilating. 



The island of Baselan, I was also informed, is a common resort of 

 the " Illanos," and some of its inhabitants are pirates from their birth, 

 and it is not unusual for them to identify themselves with the " Illanos." 

 Although the whole Sooloo group is subject to visits from them from 

 time to time during their cruizes, they are in the habit of resorting to 

 no other fixed points except " Baselan" and " Bang een ghee" the 

 first of which is an island of very considerable size. They generally 

 obtain their supplies of ammunition, &c. by trafficking with places of 

 their acquaintance, which are in communication with the various small 

 Dutch settlements on the coast of Borneo and the islands. 



The boldness and audacity of the " Illanos" cannot well be exagge- 

 rated. They have been known to enter the bay of Manilla, passing the 

 signal station on the island of Corregidor, where two gun-boats are 

 generally stationed, and to capture boats or small vessels within the bay. 

 This I believe was proved on the late trial by two boys, who were 

 captured by them in a boat off Cavite, about eight miles from the city 

 of Manilla. From the " Lagttna" which they inhabit in Mindanao, 

 they have been known not unfrequently to push a passage in their pra- 

 hus out to the northward by a small river which runs from the lake into 

 the sea at " Cay -gain" where there is a Spanish settlement, a fort, 

 and always a company of soldiers, whose random fire from musketry, 

 after they have got clear, they have ridiculed by loud shouts and 

 wild yells of defiance. If they have reason to suspect that a par- 

 ticular look-out is kept for them when on their passage to seaward 

 by the Spanish falucas stationed at Sarnhoangan and its neighbourhood, 

 their quickness and penetration are incredible. They will move their 



