THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS 
95 
Along the eastern coast, especially in its southern portion, 
many Sulus have established themselves, most of them 
being refugees from the pirate haunts of Sulu and Min¬ 
danao. Inland are Dusun and Murut Dyaks, and to the 
north a people of uncertain race, probably a mixture of 
Dyaks and Bisayans—the Tagbuanas—interesting as 
being an almost savage people who possess a peculiar 
alphabet, somewhat similar to that once used by the 
Bisayans, but distinct (see Marche, Luzon et Palaoan , p. 
327). Negritos are said to exist. 
The only place upon the island which can really be 
said to be occupied by the Spaniards is Puerto Princesa, 
better known to the English as Port-Royalist, an excel¬ 
lent harbour on the east coast. Here is a convict 
settlement, looked after by two companies of a native 
regiment, a small arsenal, and a slip, and two gunboats 
are stationed at the port, which boasts of one of the few 
lighthouses existent in the Philippines. Tai-tai, at the 
north of the island, has been almost deserted by the 
Spaniards on account of its unhealthiness. 
There are few or no roads in Palawan except that 
crossing to Ulugan Bay, and very little is done in the way 
of trade or agriculture. Such trade as there is consists 
chiefly of forest and sea produce, and is in the hands of 
a few Chinamen on the east coast. But even these do 
not obtain their goods direct from the natives, but 
through the Sulus, who act as middlemen, and not in¬ 
frequently make a more rapid profit by murdering the 
Chinese and sacking their stores. Dumaran Island, to 
the north, was once covered with pine plantations, but 
a few years ago these were completely destroyed by a 
plague of rats. 
On Balabac Island, to the south of Palawan, the 
Spanish have established an agricultural convict colony, 
