We were very anxious to obtain a supply of bullocks, to keep our people as much on fresh meat as possible. The purser and interpreter, with a party of officers, went in a boat to communicate with a house which struck us in passing--from its size and plantations round it--as probably belonging to some chief, by whose assistance we hoped to get a supply of cattle. Having, with difficulty, got inside the shoals, and effected a landing, our party was received in the politest manner by a fine-looking old Malay, who came down with his family to meet them. They made him understand our wants; and he sent immediately to the chief of the district, and acquainted him with our wishes, appointing the next morning at nine as the time to receive the chief’s answer. Our people left the shore much pleased with their friend, who, as I have before remarked of the well-bred Malays, was a gentleman, polite, easy, and dignified. [Sidenote: Dec. 19.] The next morning the same party landed with the necessary articles for barter, expecting to meet the chief or his deputy, and make a bargain for the cattle. Their friend of the previous evening received them in the same kind manner. They waited some time in expectation of the cattle arriving, instead of which, parties of natives kept thronging in, well armed with kris, spear, and shield--their tom-toms beating outside. After a while came the chief with a numerous train--himself a humpbacked, ferocious-looking savage--with all his men in padded jackets, and regular fighting costume. He made no reply to the questions of our party about bullocks, but kept his hand on his kris, and appeared undecided how to act. We were only eight in number, and destitute of arms, with the exception of my double-barrel, the kind behaviour of their friend the night before having completely removed all suspicion of any sinister behaviour. Surrounded now by about sixty well-armed, rascally-looking thieves, of hostile demeanour, we thought it best to put on as bold a front as possible, and at the same time quietly to retire. Nor did we underrate our good fortune in regaining the boat without further molestation, the ship being some miles distant, and shut from view by projecting headlands. This was a lesson not to venture, in future, out of sight of the ship among the natives of these islands without an apparent superiority of force. Their white flags were hung out as much for the purpose of entrapping the weak as of bartering with the strong. Finding our wishes not likely to be attained, and not liking our berth, which was exposed to the eastward, we weighed, and ran round to the opposite side of Cagayan Sulu. This island, from its size and population, is next in importance to Sulu itself. The scenery, at this stage of our wanderings, was the perfection of tropical beauty, with just sufficient cultivation to redeem it from the appearance of wildness.