ACCOUNT OF SULU. 
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and Barangayes, amongst the Tagalos, takes no notice of any 
Sultan, or Sovereign, amongst them. 
The Chronica de S. Gregorio, (v. 1. p. 134,) tells us also, that 
the Tagalos have a Tradition of their being descendants from 
Borneo. Hence it seems probable, that the Bornean empire 
comprehended all the Bissaya and Tagalo provinces of the 
Phillipinas, though it seems to have extended no farther North. 
Placentia derives the Tagalo term Barangayes, from the vessels 
in which, he supposes, the families, who peopled these parts, 
arrived. Without pretending to determine, whether there were 
any vessels of this appellation, amongst the Malays, as he alleges, 
it seems probable, as the Sulu Government, as well as most, others 
in the neighbourhood, have Oran kyas, answering to the office of 
Barangayes, that these names, so familiar in sound, have the same 
origin ; for although in the Malay language, Oran-kaya is literally 
a rich man, it is applied to the heads of the several towns and 
districts, where there are no superior officers. 
Perhaps anciently Barangayes may have have been the common 
appellation in the Bornean dominions, though it has now given 
place to the Malay term. 
It does not appear, whether the Bornean empire was Mahometan 
or not, before its dissolution, nor can I determine the time this 
law got footing in Borneo; though the Portuguese, who visited 
Borneo in 1530, say, it then was, (Lavanha p. 380). It is reported 
that it was introduced at Celebes about the middle of the 16th 
century. And it seems to be allowed, the first Sultan of Sulu 
introduced the Mahomedan law there, though possibly the Bajows 
might then be Islam ; wherefore it is not probable the Mahometan 
law was universally established, before the dissolution of tlie 
Bornean empire, for although when the Sulu Government was 
formed, there was, as there still is, a Prince at Borneo, I conceive 
his dominion was not then extensive. There is another evidence to 
corroborate tlie opinion, that Mahometanism, is of late introduction, 
as tlie Idaan, who inhabit the island of Borneo, are Gentiles, nay, 
some of the most considerable maritime places, on the N.W. part 
of the island, which were nearest to the capital, as Kemannees and 
Tawarran, are Gentiles to this day. However, it seems, from the 
Spanish discoverers, that the Mahometan religion had found its 
way into this quarter, though it did not universally prevail. 
There is a very great variety of languages in the Sulu dominions. 
The Tiroon and Idaan, are equally foreign to the Sulu, and to each 
other: nay, particular districts have different languages, which, 
however, I rather suppose dialects of some of the others, than 
entirely distinct from them. The Idaan language is described to 
be a very soft and smooth one. 
The learning of Sulu is very confined. They have adopted the 
Malay characters, and have a few books in that language, with 
which they are chiefly supplied by the Bugis. They have also, 
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