374 S O O L O O. 



nephew, Alim-ud-deen, readily giving place to him, and confirming 

 the grant to the East India Company, in which the Ruma Bechara 

 joined. 



After various arrangements, the East India Company took posses- 

 sion of Balamhangan, in the year 1773, and formed a settlement there 

 with a view of making it an emporium of trade for Eastern commo- 

 dities. Troops and stores were sent from India, and the population 

 began to increase by settlers, both Chinese and Malays, who arrived 

 in numbers. In the year 1775, the fort, notwithstanding all the 

 treaties and engagements between Dalrymple and the Sultan, was 

 surprised by the Sooloos, and many of the garrison put to death. 

 This virtually put an end to the plans of the English, although 

 another attempt was made to re-establish the settlement by Colonel 

 Farquhar, in 1803 ; but it was thought to be too expensive a post, and 

 was accordingly abandoned in the next year. This act of the Sooloos 

 fairly established their character for perfidy, and ever since that 

 transaction they have been looked upon as treacherous in the highest 

 degree, and, what is singular, have been allowed to carry on their 

 piracies quite unmolested. The taking of Balambangan has been 

 generally imputed to the treacherous disposition and innate love of 

 plunder among the Sooloos, as well as to their fear that it would 

 destroy the trade of Sooloo by injuring all that of the archipelago. 

 But there are strong reasons for believing that this dark deed owed 

 its origin in part to the influence of the Spaniards and Dutch, who 

 looked with much distrust upon the growth of the rival establish- 

 ment. Such was the jealousy of the Spaniards, that the governor of 

 the Philippines peremptorily required that Balambangan should be 

 evacuated. The Sooloos boast of the deed, and admit that they re- 

 ceived assistance from both Samboangan and Ternate, the two nearest 

 Spanish and Dutch ports. These nations had great reasons to fear the 

 establishment of a power like that of the East India Company, in a 

 spot so favourably situated to secure the trade of the surrounding 

 islands, possessing fine harbours, and in every way adapted to become 

 a great commercial depot. Had it been held by the East India Com- 

 pany but for a few years, it must have become what Singapore is now. 

 The original planner of this settlement is said to have been Lord 

 Pigot; but the merit of carrying it forward was undoubtedly due to 

 Dalrymple, whose enterprising mind saw the advantage of the situa- 

 tion, and whose energy was capable of carrying the project success- 

 fully forward. 



