550 
ACCOUNT 01? SULU. 
Thus, Great, is in the Sulu language, Dahalo , but they have 
various other words of magnitude, as Mag-go, Taddal, Ta/rung. 
JBaggal. These are confined to distinct subjects, thus Tarung , 
expresses the large of fruit, JBaggal, of Animals, &c. 
Whether the Sulu language is the original dialect of Borneo, 
cannot be determined: though, from its relation to the j Bissaya 
language, it is not improbable that it has, at least, an affinity to it; 
since it is beyond dispute, the Bornean empire extended over the 
Bissaya islands; but that these languages are derived from the Malay, 
seems very improbable: the intercourse with the Malays, and the 
use of that language, as the general means of conversation with 
strangers, will naturally account for the introduction of many 
Malay words, or words with affinity to Malay'. But when the 
expressions of affirmation and negation are different, as well as 
those of numeration, and in common life, it seems inconsistent 
to suppose an identity of original; many examples w T ould be 
superfluous, a few may be both useful and entertaining.* 
Their assumption of the Malay characters may, probably, have 
introduced many words into those states, who have adopted them, 
than into the more remote which had characters of their own : 
it is conjectured that the Borneos had a character; for since the 
Bugis, the Javanese, the Tagalos, &c. have, there is little reason 
to doubt the Borneos had. And perhaps the distinct characters 
may point out the original empires, or sovereignties, into which the 
Oriental Polynesia was divided. 
It does not appear, the Bissayas have any original character, 
though it seems evident, from circumstances mentioned by the 
Spanish discoverers, that the Mahometan religion had found its 
w r ay there; in this we have an evidence to warrant the Bornean 
dominion, which perhaps comprehended also the Tagalos, whose 
language is said to have affinity to the Bissaya. In this ease the 
Tagalo character is probably the ancient Bornean. 
Had the first missionaries paid any attention to these enquiries, 
some information of consequence might be obtained, but it does 
not appear that there is any thing written on the antiquities of the 
Phillipinas, except Fr. Juan de Placentia’s curious though concise 
Account of the Ancient Government and Customs (24th October, 
1589). It is true, the Spaniards who have wrote of the Talago 
language, pretend they derived their characters from the Malays : 
these Tagalo characters have no similitude to the Arabic, or Malay 
characters, and therefore, if it means any thing, this opinion must 
countenance the conjecture above mentioned, as the Borneos may 
easily be supposed to be confounded under the general name of 
Malays. 
Placentia, though he mentions the ancient Government of Datos 
* We do not give these, as we shall hereafter publish a full Sulu vocabulary.— 
