d2S 
ESSAY TOWARDS AN ACCOUNT OF SUL IT. 
Unsang terminates eastward in a- bluff point, at the N. E. part 
whereof is a small island, named Tanibisan , forming a harbour 
capable of admitting ships of considerable size. The main adjacent 
yields plenty of fine timber, particularly alexandrian laurel, some 
trees of which are 2 to 3 fathoms in circumference. 
The north coast of Unsang has many bays, but none which afford 
shelter in the northerly winds. There are on this coast many large 
rivers, 30 in number from T amblsan to Sandakan , all (except 
Maroak ) branches of the Kinabatanaggan river , which comes from 
the lake of Kiney "Ballu. The 4 western branches are the most 
considerable), and of all, the last T owsan Abai; the bar is very 
shallow, but within, it is said, to have depth enough for any ship, 
and perhaps, were the country well peopled, this might be brought 
through the harbour of Manmyong , which would probably open 
the bar. 
The eastern part of Unsang abounds with wild elephants, which 
have not reached the other parts of Borneo, and Mangidara, in 
general, with cattle, left there by the Spaniards, who about a 
century ago had got footing here, but relinquished it, by treaty 
with the Sulus. 
Opposite to T owsan Duyon, which is said to unite the harbours 
of Sandakan and Mamuyong, is the island B ahalatolis; on the 
interior side of the island, it is said, a ship may careen, close to the 
shore, in 8 or 10 fathoms, and that there is a stream of excellent 
water falling into the sea over the cliffs.* 
Sandakan is described to be an assemblage of many harbours, 
with soundings, fit for any ship, and good water : It abounds with 
baat, and just without it, there is abundance of agal-agal. 
Doubling a point, to the north westward, is a large bay, named 
Labuk , it has several banks in it, and, farther to the north, disem¬ 
bogues the river of Sugut, which (it is said) comes from the lake 
of Kiney ISallu. 
Opposite to Sandakan and Labuk, there is an assemblage of 
islands, the eastermost, named B aguan, is remarkable for the great 
plenty of green turtle, found there in the southerly winds. This 
island and Siparran, on the coast of Mangidara , are the only 
places where the punu, or green turtle, are in plenty. The pa~ 
yukan , or tortoise-shell species, is remarkably plenty, in all the 
Malludu islands in particular. B aguan also, has plenty of the 
palo-maria or alexandrian laurel. The other islands in this cluster 
are, Saganac, Great and Little liancungan , Langaan, Lihiman , 
B o-aan, Papattangal, which is a bank with a tree, S ilingaan, Gu- 
lissan, and Libarran. 
Almost midway, between B aguan and Cagayan S ulu, is Mam - 
bahenawan, and between them and the Paitan islands, is Lamkayan . 
Paitan is a bay and river on Borneo, remarkable for the abun- 
* This account was from the information of the Sulus , before I had visited these 
parts. 
