PALAWAN. 
147 
amusement was to walk to the estuary of a small river some distance from Taguso, where I 
used to collect the many species of Waders which were now steadily flying south. Golden 
Plovers, Redshanks, Whimbrels, Stints, and Sandpipers were very common, and some had 
hardly changed their summer dress; all these Waders were flying full against the gale, and 
the harder it blew the more plentiful the birds became. Frigate-birds (Fregata minor ) 
were plentiful, remaining poised high in the air, scarcely moving for several hours. The 
natives believe these birds feed on the wind, and say they live on nothing else. Towards 
the end of our stay we procured many examples of a beautiful blue-and-green racket-tailed 
Parrot (Prioniturus cyaneiceps, sp. nov.), of which species I give a figure. 
By the end of September I became anxious about the ‘ Royalist,’ she being now two 
months overdue, and began to fear that she had been wrecked. However, on the 1st of 
October we were delighted by the sight of our long-expected steamer which was to carry 
us away from this miserable place. My men, who were some distance away, on hearing her 
whistle came running back to the store, and could hardly restrain their feelings of delight. 
The wind was blowing a south-west gale and the sea running high : after landing the 
Chinese from the ship, the coolies commenced to try and load the steamer with produce ; 
but the gale increased, and by mid-day blew with such violence that the ‘ Royalist ’ had to 
flee before it, taking shelter behind a headland up coast. The next day she was still 
unable to approach; but having the Chinese traders as hostages I felt safe, and on the 3rd 
a terrific gale made the £ Royalist ’ weigh her anchors and flee for shelter once more. It 
was not until the 5th that we again saw our steamer, when the sea was calm with a long 
rolling swell. I felt relieved when we were all safely on board, and we bid adieu to 
Taguso—I hope for ever: the miserable days spent there have left no pleasant impressions 
in my mind. 
The 4 Royalist ’ before returning to Labuan was going to visit the opposite coast, so I 
had an opportunity of seeing that part of Palawan. We soon passed Rocky Bay, where 
the mountain of Kalamutan is much nearer the sea ; but I have heard that this spot is 
inhabited by some desperately bad Sulu characters. The southern extremity of Palawan 
ends up with numbers of small islands between it and Balabac. On arriving at Kalusian, 
one of the trading centres, I left some of the Kadyans to collect a few birds, and proceeded 
to the north to Sidano in the ‘ Royalist.’ Sidano is a small island off the coast, where 
the Chinese have another store. A comfortable plank-built house, now in possession of 
some Sulus, formerly belonged to the American trader who was murdered here. It is rather 
annoying to see the Sulus occupying this house, thus benefiting by their own misdeeds. 
On our return journey we were boarded here by two Spanish officials, but, as they could 
neither speak French nor Malay, our conversation with them was limited. I, however, 
gathered from their conversation that they had lately been posted here to open up the 
country on the mainland opposite, where they had erected a fort. The colony had suffered 
dreadfully from fever, some thirty Manilla soldiers and one Spaniard having succumbed. 
The Doctor who visited us said that he was entirely without quinine, and they had not been 
visited by a gunboat with fresh stores for several months. I should by no means envy 
the life of a Spanish official in Palawan. 
We steamed for half a day further up the coast to a spot where a few Chinese had 
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