SO O LOO. 351 



their number, and without having done any injury to the Sooloos. 

 Not discouraged with this failure, the Spaniards, about two years 

 after, organized a still larger force, which is estimated by some ac- 

 counts as high as ten thousand men. Although this failed in its 

 attempts on the fort at Soung, the Spaniards obtained possession of 

 Tanjong Matonda, one of the small ports on the island, where they 

 erected a church and fort. Here they established a colony, and 

 appointed a governor. The inhabitants upon this deserted their habi- 

 tations in the neighbourhood, and fled to the mountains, which, it is 

 said, excited the mountaineers, a host of whom, with their chief, 

 whose name was Sri Kala, determined to rush upon the Spaniards, 

 and annihilate them. Having to contend against disciplined troops, 

 it was not an easy task to succeed. But Sri Kala had a follower, 

 named Sigalo, who offered to lead the host to battle against the 

 Spaniards, and to exterminate them, or die in the attempt. The chief 

 accepted his offer, and Sigalo, with a chosen few, marched towards 

 the fort, leaving the rest of the mountaineers in readiness to join them 

 at an appointed signal, and rush into the fort en masse. 



Sri Kala and Sigalo, in order to lull the watchfulness of the Spa- 

 niards, took with them a young woman, of exquisite beauty, named 

 Purmassuri. The lustful Spaniards were thus thrown oft" their guard, 

 the signal was given, and the host, rushing forward, entered the fort, 

 every Spaniard within which was slain. A few only, who were on 

 the outside, escaped to the vessels, which set sail, and after encounter- 

 ing various mishaps, returned to Manilla. 



Some time after this the Sultan Bantilan died, and his son Alim-ud- 

 deen was proclaimed sultan. Dalrymple did not return until 1762, 

 with a part of the appointed cargo ; but the vessel in which the larger 

 part had been shipped, failed to arrive, from not being able to find 

 Sooloo, and went to China. Thence she proceeded to Manilla, and 

 afterwards to Sooloo. The captain of the latter vessel gave a new 

 credit to the Sooloos, before they had paid for their first cargo; and 

 on the arrival of Dalrymple the next time, he found that the small-pox 

 had carried off a large number of the inhabitants, from which circum- 

 stance all his hopes of profit were frustrated. He then obtained for 

 the use of the East India Company, a grant of the island of Balamban- 

 gan, which lies off the north end of Borneo, forming one side of the 

 Straits of Balabac, the western entrance to the Sooloo Sea. Here he 

 proposed to establish a trading port, and after having visited Madras, 

 he took possession of this island in 1763. 



In October, 1763, the English took Manilla, where the Sultan Amir 

 was found by Dalrymple, who engaged to reinstate him on his throne, 



