THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS 
89 
The Sulu Islands. 
From Zamboanga south-westward to Borneo the Sulu 
Islands form, as it were, a series of stepping-stones. 
They number over 200, but are for the most part of very 
small size, the only exceptions being Basilan, Sulu, and 
Tawi-tawi. They are remarkable for their beauty, and, 
until lately, for affording shelter to the praus of the most 
bloodthirsty pirates of the Eastern seas. Politically, they 
fall under the jurisdiction of the administrator of the 
Mindanao district, and form two provinces, Basilan and 
Jolo (as the Spaniards term Sulu) each of which is looked 
after by a military governor. Until lately the “ Castil¬ 
ians ” had enough to do to hold their own within the 
walls of their settlements, and did not venture to exercise 
any real authority over the fanatical and turbulent Sulus, 
except by means of occasional punitive expeditions. Nor 
had the Sultan of Sulu much more power over his law¬ 
less subjects. Each rendered obedience to his own 
panglima or small raja, who was often at war with his 
neighbour a mile or two distant, and hardly on better 
terms with his nominal sovereign. When Dr. Guillemard 
visited Sulu in 1883 and 1884, four or more of these 
small potentates were more or less at w~ar with each 
other. Lately, however, with the establishment of fresh 
posts in the archipelago, the check to piracy, and the 
civilising influence of trade, the “ Castilians ” have been 
gradually gaining the upper hand. They have settle¬ 
ments at Basilan, Jolo, Siassi, and Lapac, Tataan in Tawi- 
tawi Island, and Bongao off its western extremity, and 
two or three gunboats are always stationed in the group. 
The establishment of the British North Borneo Company 
has also done much towards purging these seas of piracy. 
