S o o l o I s l e s .
tween two and three inches long, oval, and containing a large
nut.
T h e third is La Houette, tab. 90, a very lofty tree.
B e t w e e n the fouth end o f Mindanao, and the north-eaft
point o f Borneo, is a chain o f fmall ifles, extending about two
hundred miles in length, called the Soolo, from the name o f the
chief ifland. The principal was about the middle of this century
governed by a fultan, according to M. Sonnerat, the very
counterpart o f Peter the Great; endowed with the fame abilities,,
the fame third: after knowlege, and the fame ambition o f applying
it to the improvement o f his fubjeits. Like Peter, he
quitted his throne, and took to travelling during feveral years.
He went afterwards to Batavia, where he concealed his name and
quality, and affociated himfelf with the common failors to learn
their bufinefs. He next changed his company for that o f the
carpenters, to be inftrudled In their art. He bought tools o f all
forts, and inftruments o f huibandry, and then returned to his
throne. Still he wilhecl for more intelledlual improvement;
failed for Mecca to learn the law o f Mahomet; made himfelf
mafter of the Arabic tongue, brought home the, ufe o f letters,
and introduced money, the firft ever known in the
iilands.
T h i s monarch obtained poffeflion by conqueft of a fmall part
o f Borneo next to his dominions, which involved him in a quarrel
with fome Butch, who pretended they were allies to the
Bornoeje. Our prince found he never could be a match for thefe
people without the ufe o f fire-arms. He fitted out a fewihips,
loaded them with articles o f commerce, and failed to Manilla, in
k order
order to fupply his wants. The rapacious governor feized on
the monarch and all his treafure, under pretence that he intended
the conqueft o f the ifland. The fultan remonftrated in vain, he
endured a long captivity ; his fubjeils, enraged at the treatment
their prince had met with, made horrible ravages on the coafts of
Luconia. The governor did not dare to complain, as heknew his
court would not approve his conduit. He ftipulated with the
prince that he would reftore him to liberty, provided he would
confent to eftablifh in his dominions a million o f Jefuits. He
refufed to comply; the Jefuits, determined on revenge and conqueft,
obtained an armament, and taking the Soolo monarch,
failed for Sambouange, and from thence to Soolo, where they
landed, and laid fiege to the only fort on the ifland. The warriors
o f Soolo furprifed them, and drove them with difgrace to their
ihips. At, Sambouange he found means to efcape on board an
Englifh veffel, which conveyed him to Soolo ; his fnbjects crowded
to him, and he remounted his throne, to the great joy of his
people; he ceded a fmall ifland to the Englijh, <in<.\ declared his
ports open to all piratical adventurers, to encourage them to revenge
his caufe on the treacherous Spaniards. Mr. Forrejl vi-
fited this ifland, and found there an Englifh facftor; it was then
governed by Ifrael, fon o f the captive fultan, who had received
his education at Manilla.
Mr. Balrymple viftted thefe iilands, and left us fome account
.of their natural hiftory : they are particularly rich in pearls; the P e a r l s .
banks on which the different fhells are found containing thofe
gems are o f great extent; the pearl is not confined to one fpecies
,of fhell, Mr. Balrymple defcribes feveral, but as he does not do it
M 2 fcientifically,