354 SOOLOO. 



The following are the piratical establishments of Sooloo, obtained 

 from the most authentic sources, published as well as verbal. The first 

 among these is the port of Soung, at which we anchored, in the island 

 of Sooloo ; not so much from the number of men available here for this 

 pursuit, as the facility of disposing of the goods. By the Spaniards they 

 are denominated Ilia nun or Lanuns pirates.* There are other rendez- 

 vous on Pulo Toolyan, at Bohol, Tonho, Pilas, Tawi Tawi, Sumlout, 

 Pantutaran, Parodasan, Palawan, and Basillan,and Tantolion Celebes. 

 These are the most noted, but there are many minor places, where 

 half a dozen prahus are fitted out. Those of Sooloo, and those who go 

 under the name of the Lanuns, have prahus of larger size, and betier 

 fitted. They are from twenty to thirty tons burden, and are propelled 

 by both sails and oars. They draw but little water, are fast sailers, 

 and well adapted for navigating through these dangerous seas. These 

 pirates are supposed to possess in the whole about two hundred 

 prahus, which usually are manned with from forty to fifty pirates; the 

 number therefore engaged in this business, may be estimated at ten 

 thousand. They are armed with muskets, blunderbusses, krises, 

 hatchets, and spears, and at times the vessels have one or two large 

 guns mounted. They infest the Straits of Macassar, the Sea of 

 Celebes, and the Sooloo Sea. Soung is the only place where they can 

 dispose of their plunder to advantage, and obtain the necessary outfits. 

 It may be called the principal resort of these pirates, where well- 

 directed measures would result in effectually suppressing the crime. 



Besides the pirates of Sooloo, the commerce of the eastern islands is 

 vexed with other piratical establishments. In the neighbouring seas, 

 there are the Malay pirates, who have of late years become exceedingly 

 troublesome. Their prahus are of much smaller size than those of 

 Sooloo, being from ten to twelve tons burden, but in proportion they are 

 much better manned, and thus are enabled to ply with more efficiency 

 their oars or paddles. These prahus frequent the shores of the Straits 

 of Malacca, Cape Romania, the Carimon Isles, and the neighbouring 

 straits, and at times they visit the Straits of Rhio. Some of the most 

 noted, I was informed, were fitted out from Johore, in the very 

 neighbourhood of the English authorities at Singapore; they generally 

 have their haunts on the small islands on the coast, from which they 

 make short cruises. 



They are noted for their arrangements for preventing themselves 

 from receiving injury, in the desperate defences that are sometimes 

 made against them. These small prahus have usually swivels mounted, 



* This name is derived from the large bay that makes in on the south side of the island of 



Mindanao, and on which a set of freebooters reside. 



