S O O L O O. 
345 
guards them from the encroachment of others. The chief to whom 
they thus attach themselves, is induced to treat them well, in order to 
retain their services, and attach them to his person, that he may, in 
case of need, be enabled to defend himself from depredations, and the 
violence of his neighbours. 
Such is the absence of legal restraint, that all find it necessary to go 
abroad armed, and accompanied by a trusty set of followers, who are 
also armed. This is the case both by day and night, and, according 
to the Datu’s account, frequent affrays take place in the open streets, 
which not unfrequently end in bloodshed. 
Caution is never laid aside, the only law that exists being that of 
force; but the weak contrive to balance the power of the strong by 
uniting. They have not only contentions and strife among themselves, 
but it was stated at Manilla that the mountaineers of Sooloo, who are 
said to be Christians, occasionally make inroads upon them. At Soo¬ 
loo, however, it did not appear that they were under much apprehen¬ 
sion of these attacks. The only fear I heard expressed was by the 
Sultan, in my interview with him; and the cause of this, as I have 
already stated, was probably a desire to find an excuse for not afford¬ 
ing us facilities to go into the interior. Within twenty years, however, 
the reigning sultan has been obliged to retire within his forts, in the 
town of Sooloo, which I have before adverted to. 
These people are hostile to the Sooloos of the coast and towns, who 
take every opportunity to rob them of their cattle and property, for 
which the mountaineers seek retaliation when they have an opportu¬ 
nity. From the manner in which the Datu spoke of them, they are 
not much regarded. Through another source I learned that the moun¬ 
taineers were Papuans, and the original inhabitants of the islands, 
who pay tribute to the Sultan, and have acknowledged his authority, 
ever since they were converted to Islamism. Before that time they 
were considered extremely ferocious, and whenever it was practicable 
they were destroyed. Others speak of an original race of Dyacks in 
the interior, but there is one circumstance to satisfy me that there is 
no confidence to be placed in this account, namely, that the island is 
not of sufficient extent to accommodate so numerous a population as 
some ascribe to it. 
The forts consist of a double row of piles, filled in with coral blocks. 
That situated on the east side of the small stream may be said to 
mount a few r guns, but these are altogether inefficient; and in another, 
on the west side, which is rather a rude embankment than a fort, there 
are some twelve or fifteen pieces of large calibre; but I doubt very 
vol. v. 44 
