348 SOOLOO. 



sultans and their subjects have become hostile to Europeans, of whom 

 they plunder and destroy as many as they can, and this they have 

 hitherto been allowed to do with impunity. 



Although I have described the trade with Sooloo as limited, yet it is 

 capable of greater extension ; and had it not been for the piratical 

 habits of the people, the evil report of which has been so widely spread, 

 Sooloo would now have been one of the principal marts of the East. 

 The most fertile parts of Borneo are subject to its authority. There all 

 the richest productions of these Eastern seas grow in immense quanti- 

 ties, but are now left ungarnered in consequence of there being no 

 buyers. The cost of their cultivation would be exceedingly low, and 

 I am disposed to believe that these articles could be produced here at a 

 lower cost than any where else. 



Besides the trade with China, there is a very considerable one with 

 Manilla in small articles, and I found one of our countrymen engaged 

 in this traffic, under the Spanish flag. To him I am indebted for much 

 information that his opportunities of observation had given him. 



The materials for the history of Sooloo are meagre, and great doubt 

 seems to exist in some periods of it. That which I have been able to 

 gather is as follows. 



The island of Sooloo is generally believed to have been originally 

 inhabited by Papuans, some of whom, as I have already stated, are 

 still supposed to inhabit the mountainous part. The first intercourse 

 had with them was by the Chinese, who went there in search of pearls. 

 The Orang Dampuwans were the first of the Malays to form settle- 

 ments on the islands; but after building towns, and making other 

 improvements, they abandoned the islands, in consequence, it is said, 

 of the inhabitants being a perfidious race, having previously to their 

 departure destroyed as many of the natives as they could. 



The fame of the submarine riches of this archipelago reached 

 Banjar, or Borneo, the people of which were induced to resort there, 

 and finding it to equal their expectation, they sent a large colony, and 

 made endeavours to win over the inhabitants, and obtain thereby the 

 possession of their rich isle. In order to confirm the alliance, a female 

 of Banjarmassing, of great beauty, was sent, and married to the prin- 

 cipal chief; and from this alliance the sovereigns of Sooloo claim their 

 descent. The treaty of marriage made Sooloo tributary to the Ban- 

 jarmassing empire. 



After the Banjars had thus obtained possession of the archipelago, 

 the trade in its products attracted settlers from the surrounding islands, 

 who soon contrived to displace the aborigines, and drive them to the 

 inaccessible mountains for protection. 



