ESSAY TOWARDS AN ACCOUNT OF SULU. 525 
country, in general, is described to be plain and flat to the bottom 
of the hills, and no country in this quarter abounds more in va¬ 
luable productions : The canes are esteemed the finest in the 
world, cowries are very plenty, wax, tortoise-shell, baat, or sca-flug, 
&c., are in abundance. Most of the Iclaan live on the east-side, 
for which reason it is best frequented, but as there are few bajows , 
the utmost benefit is not derived from the innumerable banks there. 
There has been lately found the Tenju, which is the gum, or resin, 
of a very large tree, it much resembles amber, and 40 or 50 piculs 
may be had of it yearly.* There is much ebony and lakka, and it 
is said there are hot springs and mines of gold. The west side 
is chjefly inhabited by a savage people, who seldom frequent the 
coast. 
The Sulu dominions on Borneo are distinguished into four dis¬ 
tricts ; Tirun Mangidara, Malludu and Kiney-Ballu or Pappal. 
The first extends from Kanneungan to Sibocu , which is the last 
river of Tirun. 
Mang-idara extends from Sibocu northward to Towsan Duyon. 
Malludu , comprehends the north end of the island, and I*appal, 
the districts adjacent to Borneo Proper. However, the limits of 
each are not very definite. 
Besides, these districts on the main, there are many islands ad¬ 
jacent to almost every part of it, which I propose to mention in 
succession to the district they are nearest. 
Tirun. 
The coast is all low mangrovy land, the mountains, very distant 
in shore, are inhabited by Idaan; all the country is covered with 
the sago trees , which, being the chief substance of the natives, they 
plant in great numbers every year, to prevent any deficiency, as 
they are long in growing. The rivers are many, very large and 
navigable. The produce of the country is chiefly sago, and bird’s 
nests, both which are in great perfection and abundance : It also 
yields wax, canes, rattans, mats, honey, and some parts of if gold, 
gulega, and baat or sea-slug: And it is affirmed there is great 
plenty of saltpetre. And many capis. 
The first river of Tirun is Tapeandurian , or Tapedurian, chiefly 
remarkable for the bad disposition of its inhabitants. 
The next is a small river named Samontay , and to the northward 
of it Duma,ring, which is a considerable place. A little farther is 
Talisyan , to the northward whereof is a point with a hill towards 
the shore. There are several banks along the coast, where they 
collect baat. 
The next river is a very large one, sometimes called Da-row , and 
sometimes Quran, from different places near it; the first is an in¬ 
dependant state, in alliance with Sulu, th e other is subject to Sulu: 
The river has 3 fathoms at the mouth, but there are several shoals 
* Tenju, is little different from gum copal. 
