I may conclude the story of the capture and recapture of the _Dolphin_ schooner, by observing that an attempt was made to enter into communication with the Lanuns of Tungku, who, however, instead of respecting the white flag, fired on us, causing us some loss; we destroyed a few of their villages, but being only a desultory operation, it had no permanent effect. The British Government, hearing of the good conduct of Sherif Yasin, rewarded him liberally. I have referred to those Baju boats going to Lingkabu, off the mouth of the Labuk river, to fish for pearls. The Sulu Archipelago furnishes, probably, a greater number of beds of valuable oysters than any other part of the world, and would, no doubt, be exceedingly productive, if proper measures were taken to develope them. At present, however, the natives confine themselves to dredging with what has been aptly described as the fluke of a wooden anchor, and consequently obtain but few. In shallower water, they occasionally dive, but are not sufficiently practised to do so when the sea is eight fathoms deep. I heard of an Englishman endeavouring to send down men with a regular diving helmet, but it was said he found that the current was so strong as to prevent the air passing down the tubes, by flattening them; but there must have been some mismanagement. Occasionally some very fine pearls are obtained, and brought to Labuan for sale; I heard of one which was remarkably large and well shaped, purchased by the Hon. George Edwardes, late Governor of Labuan, and was pronounced, by all who saw it in the East, as the best that ever had been brought under their notice. I have seen very handsome ones myself, some perfectly round, others slightly pear-shaped.