44 



A VISIT TO THE mi>!AN ARCHIPELAGO. 



a couple of miles of die wrecks Jiaving nin in smooth water 

 no les^ tlmu a liumlred and twcutj miles since the morning. 



Sth December, — As might he supposed, Tvhen we fo\md 

 the wreck, not only had she been completely gutted^ but 

 she had been burned down to the water's edge, for the 

 liake of the copper and iron bolts, We obserred a few 

 native boats in the distance, making oif ^th the plunder. 



Tlie appearance of Balambangan was not inviting ; its 

 approaches arc shoal and intricate. It was twice occupied 

 by the East Indian Government, having been ceded to 

 Mr. Dalrymple by the Sultan Amir of Soloo in 1763, but 

 the occupiei"s for that Goveniment were expelled by the 

 Soloo pirates ; aiid, though afterwards recovered, it was 

 eventually abandoned- Tlie Spamards also once claimed 

 possession of Balambangan ; but, when Manilla fell into 

 tlie liands of the English, tljcy lost all hold on this place, 

 as well as their other possessions in the Soloo Arcliipelago. 

 The place has a south-west and a north-east harbour. 



There are several convenient spots on wliich we hauled 

 our seine- There is always much excitement in tJiis 

 mode of fishing within the tropics, from the great variety 

 of fish which are found in the bag of the net. Not 

 to mention sharks, swordfish, and a multitudinous 

 gathering of specimens more digestible, —young alligators 

 also, turtle, and often very rare and beautiful shells are 

 brought to land. 



The mouths of large rivers in wooded countries should 

 be avoided, on account of the dead logs which lie on the 



