Left at daylight. Even a distant view confirms my impression of the great beauty of the island. We stood on towards Basilan, where, in the Bay of Maloza, seven Spanish gunboats were seen at anchor. From an officer who came on board we learnt that the Governor of Samboañgan was there. Sir James Brooke determined to meet him immediately, and left with the officer, while we followed and found the Governor looking as hearty as ever, rather tired from having been engaged in an expedition up the country against the pirates. After firing a few guns, the enemy had fled, leaving their houses and property to be destroyed. The great fatigue was in making their way through the tangled, wet jungle, where the mire was so deep that they were occasionally up to their waists in it. The Spaniards are certainly an agreeable people to meet, and the officers looked intelligent. The Manilla troops were strong, fine men; the gunboats very effective for defence: they mount a 9-pounder or 12-pounder, and six, eight, or ten brass swivels, and are well manned; they are, however, too slow for pursuit. The Governor was very much startled by the news of the expected arrival of the Dutch, of which he had not the slightest idea, thinking that Bali would occupy them this summer. He determined immediately to return and write to Manilla. Passed Basilan, leaving the gunboats much astern, and reached Samboañgan. It appeared, of course, much the same, except that a hurricane had lately swept over the town, bringing down the church, thirty houses, and casting on shore four vessels, one of which remained there. From what we heard, several instances of piracy had lately occurred, but the particulars we expected to learn from the Governor. After dinner we landed, and took a walk. The open rice grounds, the groves of palms, the herds of buffaloes, the cows, the ponies, the regular roads, the stone bridges all showed that we were at a place where Europeans had for some time governed. Everything was much the same as when we left, even the hospitality, or rather conviviality, of the corner shop. The day we arrived the priests baptized some natives, among whom were many children of the pirates and many of their little slaves, all captured during the last great expedition. Walked out on the western road, and found it quite animated with crowds of people who were taking their Sunday’s amusement: dancing in booths and houses, collecting in groups chatting and laughing, playing the guitar and the flute; in fact, giving themselves up to enjoyment. In the evening we went to the Governor’s, and he took us to the Lieutenant-Governor’s. All spoke Spanish but himself, and he acted as interpreter.