The forests which cover a large portion of the surface of the islands yield excellent timber, including teak, mahogany, ebony, &c. Many of the useful trees which grow in this archipelago are not yet known to botanist*. The camphor barns collected in these woods is not inferior to that of Sumatra, and sells well in Japan and China. Sapan-wood, red-wood, and various dyeing woods are exported to Amoy in China. The sandal-wood and the clove and nutmeg-trees are said to exist here, and the bread-fruit and lake trees are abundant Buffaloes are not numerous; but Sooloo black cattle abound, and they are used as beasts of burden, and even for the saddle. The horses are of good breed and hardy. Hogs are not rare, though the inhabitants, being Mohammedans, do not eat them : they are con sumed by the Chinese. Wild hogs are abundant There are goats, some with spotted skins, and some beautiful small antelopes. The Sooloo Islands are the most eastern country in which the elephant is found : it was introduced from Borneo. The swallow which makes the edible bird's-neat is common in most of the islands.
The seas are abundantly stocked with fish. The most important productions of the sea are the sea-alugs, which under the name of tripang are sent to China, and the prawns and shrimps, which, after being pounded in a mortar into a soft mass, are an important article of commerce all over the Indian Archipelago and the countries beyond the Ganges, under the namo of blachang. Sea-weed is exported to China. In several places pearls are found, which also go to China. A little gold has been found. Common salt is not used, but a salt made from burnt sea-weed is in general use, The Sooloo chain consists of three groups, those of Basilan on the north-east, Sooloo in the middle, and Tawi-Tawi on the south-west. The first-mentioned group is composed of the large island of Basilan and several smaller ones. Basilan is about 45 miles long, and the average width may be 12 miles. The centre is hilly, but the sea coast low and woody. It is very fertile, and sends much rico to Sooloo. It exports blrds'-nests, mother-of-pearl, tortoise-shell, and a few pearls; cowries are abundant. The principal ports are Maloza on the south-west side and Gubswang on the north-east coast.
The Sooloo group consists of the larger island of that name and of several small {elands. Sooloo is about 40 miles long and 10 miles wide on an average. Tho surface presents two hilly tracts, separated by a low and level plain. The population is variously estimated at 60,000 to 200,000. There are many small towns on tha coast. The largest Is Sooloo, Soung, or Soog, near the western extremity of the island, with a permanent population of 6800, among whom are 800 Chinese. The Inhabitants of the town of Sooloo are said to be of Arable descent.
The coast population is of Malayan race and Mohammedans; but in the ioterior the mountains are Inhabited by idolatrous Dyaks. More than half of the inhabitants are always engaged in trading voyages, In the pearl and tripang fisheries, and the collecting of birds'-nests. On the north coast is Bokol, with 6000 inhabitants, and on the south coast, Pa rang, with 8000 inhabitants. All the products which have been mentioned as articles of export, are shipped from these towns. The larger of the other islands belonging to this group are Pangu saran, Tape', and Silliest, or Siassi, lying north-west and west of Sooloo.
Tawi-Tawi, is about 40 miles long and 12 miles wide, Iu the conire are some hills of considerable elevation, and two lakes. One of the lakes, called Dungen, is united to the sea by a channel which is from five to seven fathoms deep, but has a bar, on which there are only a fathom and three quarters at low-water, and about four fathoms at spring-tides. The lake itself is about eight fathoms deep and is fresh at low-water. It is an excellent harbour for veasela which can paas the bar. The island is thinly inhabited. It exports tepoy, tripang, birds'-nests, and many valuable pearls, but does not produce rice enough for the consumption. The principal town is Dungon, on the banks of the lake. The chain of small islands which extends along the southern coast of Tawi-Tawi consists of low islets, with numerous shoals between them. The channels that divide them are from six to eight fathoms deep, extremely intricate, and so narrow that the Chinese junks in some places require to be pushed on with poles. The most valuable pearl fishery is in these straits, which aro accessible at all seasons, and fish is very plentiful and of large size. North of Tawi-Tawi is the Talmo Bank, which consists of coral rocks covered with a layer of sand, and is in some places overgrown with shrubs and trees. It has no fresh water, but the pearl fishery is very valuable.
Between the north-eastern extremity of Borneo and the large island of Palawan are several smaller islands, and the three islauda of Banquey, Balambangan, and Balabac, which are of some extent. They are thinly inhabited, and overrun with jungle and timber-trees. They produce chiefly wax, tripang, and tortoises. Balambangan, together with the north-eastern part of Borneo, was ceded to the British by the sultan of Sooloo, and a settlement was established there in 1763. But the British were expelled in 1773 by the Sooloos, who, finding the garrison weak and sickly, and off their guard, murdered them and net fire to the settlement. In 1803 the settlement was re-established, but again abandoned in the following year, on accouut of the expense of maintaining it.