ESSAY TOWARDS AN ACCOUNT OP SULU. 
510 
The Tapul Isles comprehend, north and south Kabing-aan, 
Taluk, Tapul, Buleepong-pong, Suladde, Tara, Seeassee, NanJia, 
Lamenusa, Parang-para,ugan, Seebeehing, Karang China, Ma- 
nubol, Lapak, Pandammc, and Seerlum. . 
The Kabing-aan’s are two low woody islands, with a chain of 
rocks, like haycocks, running from one to the other. 
Taluk is close to them and is similar: all three are remarkable 
for plenty of fish. 
Tapul is a high island, abounding with fresh water, small cattle, 
goats, and yams, being cultivated to the very top : The natives, 
derived from the inland of Sulu, retain some peculiar laws and 
customs, though not very worthy to be imitated. 
Buleepongpong is a high island also, but appears more woody 
than Tapul. 
Suladdee is a low woody island, without fresh water. 
Tara is nothing more than a high rock, with a few shrubs. 
Seeassee is a high island, clothed with woods, but cleared in 
many places ; it is inhabited, and well supplied with fresh water. 
It yields many small cowries, and small bait, named Seeassee. 
Nanka is a small hummock, but pretty high and woody. 
Lameenusa has a beach of very bright white sand, but within 
seems entirely covered with wood, it is not high, though above the 
level of the islands to the southward. 
Parangparangan, Seebeehing and ‘Karang China, are all low 
and woody, with a sandy beach: It is very difficult, in passing 
them, to determine their limits or number; as great part appears 
a low sandy ridge with tufts of trees here and there, which look like 
so many islands, Parangparangan is very low, with some spots 
of bright white sand, which look like breakers; between it and 
Lameenusa, there is a dry sand bank, named Nunoan. These 
islands form a harbour with Seeassee, but it is reported to be 
shallow. 
Manubol is a small low woody island. 
Lapak is high, and clothed with woods, it appears, with Seeassee, 
to form good shelter from the S.W. and N.E. winds, and is barred 
from the south by shoals, which join the two islands. 
Panda,mme is described to be a small sand, with a few bushes, 
close to Lapak. 
And Seerlum, a small island, adjacent to it. 
The Pangutaran Isles are, Pangutaran, Ubean, Teekul, ZTsad- 
da, Kuneelaan, Bas-bas , Maleputbas, Vandukan, Kulassian, 
Bubuan, Tubigan, Vatakunan, Teomabal, Taweetawee, Lahat- 
lahat, Kaangan , P alleeangan, Tong-Tong, Marungas, Suhokon- 
Bolod, Hegad, and Meenis. 
Vangutaran , formerly settled by the Spaniards, who left a 
breed of large hogs, is about 10° long, and at the south end where 
broadest, near half that in breadth, it is destitute not only of har¬ 
bours, but even of shelter for ships, it being steep, to a very small 
