130 



PHYSICAL HISTORY OF MAN. 



On the 8th, the Vincennes anchored at the Mangsi Islands ; small 

 coral patches, situated between the extreme points of Palawan and 

 Borneo, in the middle of the Balabac Passage. They were uninhabi- 

 ted at the time, but bore various marks of visiters. A Casuarina tree 

 (the club-wood or iron-wood of the Pacific) was growing near the 

 remains of a habitation, where it had evidently been planted : and the 

 fact seemed the more interesting, from the geographical position in 

 this main oceanic pass between the East and West ; while on the 

 other hand, the plant is so rare at the Philippines, that Blanco knew 

 of but one instance of its occurrence.* We remained four days at 

 the Mangsi Islands, adding materially to our collections, not only in 

 marine productions, but rather unexpectedly, in plants. 



The high island of Balabac was in sight to the northward, and 

 that of Banguey, to the southward of the anchorage. Near the last 

 named island, one of our surveying parties " saw some natives, who 

 manifested intentions of an attack, but who appeared much afraid 

 of fire-arms." Our pilot stated, that "these people were very bad, 

 but that those of the mountains were worse ; eating men, and having 

 tails;" and he measured with his hands a space of more than a foot, 

 as the length of this appendage. Such a curiosity, if it really existed, 

 would hardly have escaped the European Establishment formerly in 

 the vicinity : but I had not before met with a locality for this well- 

 known legend. 



The coast of Borneo is said to be low ; and we did not get sight of 

 It, either before or after leaving the Balabac Passage. Continuing 

 our voyage, we saw no land until we reached the two islets of Pulo 

 Aor and Pulo Pedang ; which are lofty and covered with woods, but 

 are of small dimensions, and are situated near the southern extreme of 

 the Asiatic continent. 



d. Singapore. 



Shortly afterwards, we arrived at Singapore. The Malay popula- 

 tion was here lost amid a crowd of strangers, principally from China 

 and Hindostan: but individuals were occasionally met with, and the 



* See Blanco's Flora of the Philippines. 



