364 S O O L O O. 



They have but few qualities to redeem their treachery, cruelty, and 

 revengeful dispositions; and one of the principal causes of their being 

 so predominant, or even of their existence, is their inordinate lust for 

 power. When they possess this, it is accompanied by a haughty, 

 consequential, and ostentatious bravery. No greater affront can be 

 offered to a Sooloo, than to underrate his dignity and official conse- 

 quence. Such an insult is seldom forgiven, and never forgotten. 

 From one who has made numerous voyages to these islands, I have 

 obtained many of the above facts, and my own observation assures 

 me that this view of their character is a correct one. I would, how- 

 ever, add another trait, which is common among them, and that is 

 cowardice, which is obvious, in spite of their boasted prowess and 

 daring. This trait of character is universally ascribed to them 

 among the Spaniards in the Philippines, who ought to be well 

 acquainted with them. 



The dress of the women is not unlike that of the men in appear- 

 ance. They wear close jackets of various colours when they go 

 abroad, and the same loose breeches as the men, but over them they 

 usually have a large wrapper (sarong), not unlike the pareu of the 

 Polynesian islanders, which is put round them like a petticoat, or 

 thrown over the shoulders. Their hair is drawn to the back of the 

 head, and around the forehead it is shaven in the form of a regular 

 arch, to correspond with the eyebrows. Those that I saw at the 

 Sultan's were like the Malays, and had light complexions with very 

 black teeth. The Datu thought them very handsome, and on our 

 return he asked me if I had seen the Sultan's beauties. The 

 females of Sooloo have the reputation of ruling their lords, and 

 possess much weight in the government by the influence they exert 

 over their husbands. 



It may be owing to this that there is little jealousy of their wives, 

 who are said to hold their virtues in no very great estimation. In 

 their houses they are but scantily clothed, though women of rank have 

 always a large number of rings on their fingers, some of which are 

 of great value, as well as earrings of fine gold. They wear no stock- 

 ings, but have on Chinese slippers, or Spanish shoes. They are as 

 capable of governing as their husbands, and in many cases more so, 

 as they associate with the slaves, from whom they obtain some know- 

 ledge of Christendom, and of the habits and customs of other nations, 

 which they study to imitate in every way. 



The mode in which the Sooloos employ their time may be exem- 



