514 
ESSAY TOWARDS AN ACCOUNT OF SULU. 
tween Borneo and the Archipelago of the Philipinas , derive from 
this situation, the benefit of an exemption from tempests, and have 
from thence also another circumstance, attended with conveniences, 
though with concominant disadvantages: This is, that the winds 
are not so fixed and steady, as in places where there is an open 
sea: But, though this facilitates the passage one way, it retards it 
the other; as the consequence of this situation is, that calms and 
light winds are very frequent: Though, as the banks are of great 
extent, and the tides very rapid, upon the whole it appears to me, 
that Sulu has a benefit in these respects, above most other places 
between the tropics . 
It is common to have constant land and sea breezes m the fan- 
season, but during the rains they are in few places so frequent; 1 
have however been assured, that the coasts of Borneo, from Un¬ 
sang towards P ait an, have constantly near shore a northerly wind 
in the day, and a southerly one in the night, at all seasons. 
Perhaps the conclusion of this chapter, winch are signs of wea¬ 
ther and land, communicated by Bahatol , the old Sulu, may 
expose me to ridicule. However, few are so ignorant of human 
nature, as not to know that experience exceeds the deepest reason¬ 
ing, and that an illiterate fisherman shall often be found, better 
acquainted with the signs which indicate changes of the weather, 
than the most acute philosopher with his barometer. Bahatol 
informed me, that these signs have passed down from father to 
son, through many successions, and that his long experience has 
warr anted "their veracity : However, I only present them, to be 
confirmed, or refuted, by observation and experience. 
These signs are chiefly taken from lightning. 
When lightning explodes upwards, it shews there will soon be 
wind, though it does not denote a storm. 
A storm is predicted, by a woo-ing sound m the water. 
Tremulous lightning very high, is a sign of ram. 
The same not so high, indicates a hill. 
When the lightning is red and fiery, it shews the hill to be locky. 
When yellow, it is a sign the hill is earth. 
Low flashes upon the surface of the water, denote a shoal under 
shoal above water, has an atmosphere hanging over it, which 
tiP Low 1 long an iightning, upon the surface, shews an island with 
trees; and when an island, or hill, is high at one end, and ow a 
the other, the lightning will be in an inclining line like the hill. 
I had almost forgot to take notice of a phenomenon, well woi t ly 
a philosophical disquisition; I presume not to determine, whether 
it arisesArom a refraction in the air? from Ae tide? or from what 
other cause ? it is, that whilst at anchor near Abai, the same lands 
were sometimes visible from deck, which could, at other times, only 
be seen from the main top, elevated about 40 feet from the suifact. 
