SOOLOO. 387 



friends, who sprinkles him with the blood of a cock, and her with 

 that of a hen. This completes the affair, and they are man and wife. 



Funerals are likewise consecrated by similar offerings, the corpse 

 remaining in the house until a slave can be procured, by purchase or 

 otherwise, whom they design to behead at the time the body is burnt. 

 This is done in order that the defunct may be attended by a slave 

 on his way to the other world or realms of bliss. After being burnt, 

 the ashes of the deceased are gathered in an urn, and the head of the 

 slave preserved and placed near it. 



In some parts, a rajah or chief is buried with great pomp in his 

 war habiliments, and food and his arms are placed at his side. A 

 mound is erected over him, which is encircled with a bamboo fence, 

 upon which a number of fresh heads are stuck, all the warriors who 

 have been attached to him bringing them as the most acceptable 

 offering; and subsequently these horrid offerings are renewed. 



The Dyacks are found also on the island of Celebes, but there, as 

 in Borneo, they are confined to the interior. I have already men- 

 tioned that they were supposed to have been the original inhabitants 

 of the Sooloo Archipelago. The Sooloos speak of the country of the 

 Dyacks as being exceedingly fertile and capable of producing every 

 thing. The north end of Borneo is particularly valuable, as its pro- 

 duce is easily transported from the interior, where much of the land 

 is cultivated. I have obtained much more information in relation to 

 this people, in a variety of ways, from individuals as well as from the 

 published accounts, which are to be found at times in the Eastern 

 prints ; but as this digression has already extended to a great length, I 

 trust that enough has been said to enable the reader to contrast it with 

 the natives who inhabit the islands that dot the vast Pacific Ocean, 

 and to make him look forward with interest to the developements that 

 the philanthropic exertions of Mr. Brooke may bring to light. 



Having completed our duties here, the boats were hoisted in, after 

 despatching one to leave orders for Mr. Knox of the Flying-Fish, in 

 a bottle tied to a flag-staff. 



On the afternoon of the 12th, we got under way to proceed direct 

 to Singapore, and passed through the channel between the reef off 

 the Mangsee Islands, and those of Balambangan and Banguey. We 

 found this channel clear, and all the dangers well defined. 



As the principal objects of my visit were to ascertain the disposi- 

 tion and resources of the Sooloos for trade, and to examine the straits 



