The slaves taken among the Philippines, who know how to read and write and possess education, fetch a much higher price than any others, as they are useful in keeping their master’s accounts; and the women, it is said, by conversing with them, have gained far greater knowledge than their husbands, by means of which and their affection nearly rule them. Forrest says that in his time the women were very free in their manners, and given to intrigue, but in Eastern Asia it is a custom not confined to Sulu; but my impression from all I heard was that they were more chaste than the Borneans. The most manly-looking persons here are those whom they call the mountaineers, who appear far healthier and more vigorous than the town’s-people; but those we saw may have been merely the cultivators. The inland people, I heard, are more of the Ida’an race. They wear padded jackets, and are very brave. In 1845, a Spanish frigate and fourteen gunboats were here at the watering-place, when a Bisayan slave went alongside of one of the boats to sell fruit: the moment the officer found he was a native of the Philippines, he ordered him to be seized and put on board, though he strongly protested against it. His master, who had a great affection for him, swore he would have his revenge and kill a Spaniard. Collecting about two hundred hill people, he rushed unexpectedly on the gunboats, all his followers advancing up to the middle in water, and hurling their spears: having killed several men, he was satisfied, and retired. The people are not really well armed; their spears, krises, and shields would be of little use against an European enemy. We again visited the sultan, and found him in his hall, surrounded by perhaps about sixty or seventy people. We seated ourselves around the table, and free and easy conversation commenced. Presently chocolate was presented to us in tumblers, on plates, surrounded by native cakes; afterwards trays of sweetmeats--among others, some made by the sultana expressly for the occasion; then coffee, weak, and flavoured with cloves. For some time they conversed on various subjects, but presently datu Molok said that all business should be settled first, before any other conversation was proceeded with. When that was over, the sultan told us that, some short time back, the eastern coast of Borneo paid tribute to him, but that lately they had ceased, and asked the assistance of the English to endeavour to obtain the renewal of the ancient custom. At ten we retired. The curtain hung at the end of the hall this evening was half raised, and disclosed the huge bed, on which were sitting many of the principal women of the harim.