545 
ACCOUNT OF SULU.* 
PART II. 
The notion, commonly entertained, of the influence of climate 
on the manners of men, seems no otherwise well grounded, than 
as manners are derived from the religion, government and cus¬ 
toms, which are indeed regulated in good measure by circumstances, 
arising from the situation of a country. 
Previous therefore to a consideration of the people, it seems 
proper to treat of their government, religion and literature, as the 
origin of their manners and dispositions. 
Nothing, to a speculatist, is more agreeable or important, than 
the observation, what a difference, in point of morals, and the inter¬ 
ests of society, arises from customs and education, by which 
-Man differs more from man 
Than man from beast.- 
Speculations of this kind will probably make the best subjects, 
by impressing the strongest sense of the calamities incident to a 
deviation from the line of rectitude; and also shew, how instrumental 
religion is to the welfare of mankind, and towards preserving the 
interests of society. 
CHAPTER I. 
Their Government. 
The cold regions seem not only to have been the nurseries of 
the human species, but of civil policy ; and, probably, from thence 
the mixed monarchies, established in this and the adjacent islands, 
were derived; for as an emigrant from China, in early age, obtained 
the dominion of Borneo, we need not hesitate to conclude, the 
police of the Chinese was engrafted on this savage stock. 
It is a very difficult matter to describe the constitution of any 
country ; but it is scarcely possible to be done without recourse to 
ancient records : Enquiries gain but little information, as few, even 
in the more civilized countries, are well enough versed in the prin¬ 
ciples of their legislature, to inform a stranger : so much is every 
where supposed to be previously understood, that without the abi¬ 
lity and leisure to consult the Sulu records, and being capable of 
entering into a personal conversation, in their own language, with 
the most ancient and intelligent, on the subject of these records, I 
despair of being able to give a connected idea of their constitution. 
Their Government, by the names of the officers, which is indeed 
said to be derived from the example of Achin , seems to differ little 
from that found in the Malay countries, except perhaps of having 
more of the popular cast, unless the Malay sovereigns may have 
gained a more absolute authority, than originally was intended bv 
their constitution. 
* Coni toned from p. 531. 
