ACCOUNT OF SULU 
than a table of their princes; and a few circumstances, regarding 
the successions, and Spanish expeditions. The Spanish writers are 
what he must chiefly follow, though with the utmost care not to 
be led astray, by the errors which have crept into these writers, 
from their ignorance in the geography, and intestine history of 
Sulu : amongst others, we find mention made of the king of Ta- 
bitabi! had they been acquainted with the Sulu affairs, it would 
have been found, this was the same person, who was so near sur¬ 
prizing Samboangan (vide Lettres edifiantes, v. 23. p. 397) viz. 
Mahomud Badarodin, who retired from Sulu, to Dungun in Ta- 
wi-tawi; and returned to the assistance of the Sulus, when they 
were attacked by the Spaniards. 
Badarodin, it is true, might without much impropriety be 
called King of Tawi-tawi, as he is generally denominated Sultan 
Dungun, by the Sulus. But the manner the Spaniards mention 
it, naturally implies that Tawi-tawi and Sulu, were distinct king¬ 
doms, which can scarcely be allowed, during Badarodin’s life, to 
have been the case, and never was before, or since. 
The chief object of this essay, is to evince the Sulu independancy, 
to which these historical anecdotes are only an introduction; and 
for this reason it has been thought expedient to make a separation 
of the antient and modem history; referring to the former all 
incidents which occurred before 1734; when the present Sultan 
succeeded to the throne; and to the last all the circumstances 
which I have been able to collect of the late transactions, whether 
regarding the Spaniards or others. 
As the proofs deduced from original papers, will plainly evince 
the modern independance, it will excuse a discussion of the antient 
Spanish pretensions in this quarter.* 
The present Sultan has promised the author a detail of all the 
circumstances since his first accession; particularly regarding the 
Spaniards, whose protection he claimed, and by whom he was 
afterwards put in irons. 
The Marquis of Ensenada’s letter, plainly confutes the Spanish 
allegation, in defence of their conduct , i( that the Sultan was <e de¬ 
tected, in illicit correspondence, and double dealing” were the proofs 
much clearer than they are, the most they could make of it, would 
be u the biter bit.” As it is evident, from that letter, the Spanish 
plan was formed, before the Sultan had given any ground for 
their perfidy; although they were fairly out-witted, if not out- 
bullied, by the Sulus ; for it is obvious that the Spaniards suffered 
more by the expences of the expedition, and the disgrace it did 
them, than the Sulus, by any mischief from the Spaniards: and, 
from a full knowledge of both, the author is convinced that the 
reduction and maintaining Sulu, under the Spanish yoke, is beyond 
the power of the Philippine government. 
* Vide “full and clear proof that the Spaniards can have no claim to Balamban- 
gan,” 8vo. 1774. 
