552 
ACCOUNT OF SULU. 
it is said, Histories of Borneo, of an ancient date, and of Sulu from 
its original. There are a few who understand a little Arabic ; but 
the greatest number, even amongst the most considerable, cannot 
write, so that their literature is a subject, which does not afford 
room to be diffusive. 
They pretend, to have accounts of the inventors of Gunpowder 
and the Compass; however, they are totally ignorant of the 
Principles of Magnetism, and although they are good practical 
navigators, and are seldom without a compass in their boats, they 
have all these from the Chinese. Their names of some of the 
points are different from the Malays, 
N. Ootarra. 
NE. Timor Laut. 
NW, Heelagga. 
E. Timor. 
SE. Tongarra. 
S. Salatan. 
SW. Barat Dyar. 
W, Habbagat. 
None of them had any thing like a system of knowledge ; what 
little any of them lias picked up, is very superficial; they seem to 
have an inclination to literature, from the sensible questions they 
have asked on particular occasions; though probably this disposition 
will remain uncultivated, from the difficulty of obtaining satisfaction 
to their enquiries. 
CHAP. IV. 
* Their Manners. 
It cannot be imagined that the same manners and customs 
should prevail universally, through so many countries as this state 
is composed of; very various are those to be found amongst 
different casts of the natives. This makes it difficult to give any 
general character, though if one were to be given to the greater 
part of the inhabitants of the capital, it must be raked out of the 
dregs of mankind, since words can scarce express an adequate 
detestation and contempt of their disposition and manners, 
It is a common observation, that the Asiatics are of a more 
dissimulating inclination than the Europeans; but this is generally 
ascribed to the command they have attained over the passions, 
which has diverged them into this channel; but here there is an 
equal proportion of that brutal fire found in free savages, of the 
dissimulating disposition of the more humanized, and, perhaps, to 
the completion of their character, I may add, an adequate share 
of perfidious cowardice. 
Murder, on the most frivolous dispute, is scarce held amongst 
them to be a crime; and indeed the consideration, that whatever 
is frequent, scarce stings the conscience, would almost destroy the 
