The climate of Mindanao and Sulu Islands is healthy and delightful. The heat of Zamboanga is moderated by daily breezes, and in Sulu, in the month of June, it is not oppressive. A year's temperature readings on the Illana Bay coast (Mindanao Is.) are as follows, viz.:-- Average of Inside the House, Outside in the Shade, Fahrenheit. Fahrenheit. 6 a.m. Noon. 6 p.m. 6 a.m. Noon. 6 p.m. Jan.-March 73 deg. 84 deg. 83 deg. 72 deg. 84 deg. 80 deg. April-June 74 1/2 deg. 83 deg. 78 1/2 deg. 74 1/2 deg. 92 1/2 deg. 78 deg. July-Sept. 74 deg. 84 deg. 80 deg. 72 1/2 deg. 88 deg. 79 deg. Oct.-Dec. 73 deg. 85 deg. 80 deg. 73 deg. 83 deg. 78 deg. The Island of Palauan (Paragua) was anciently a dependency of the Sultanate of Brunei (Borneo), hence the dominion over this island of the Sultan of Sulu as suzerain lord of Brunei. At the beginning of the 18th century Spaniards had already settled in the north of it. It had a very sparse population, and a movement was set on foot to subjugate the natives. In order to protect the Spanish settlers from Mahometan attacks a fort was established at Labo. However, the supplies were not kept up, and many of the garrison died of misery, hunger, and nakedness, until 1720, when it was abandoned. Some years afterwards the island was gratuitously ceded to the Spaniards by the Sultan of Sulu, at their request. Captain Antonio Fabeau was sent there with troops to take formal possession, being awarded the handsome salary of P50 per month for this service. On the arrival of the ships, an officer was sent ashore; the people fled inland, and the formalities of annexation were proceeded with unwitnessed. The only signs of possession left there were the corpses of the troops and sailors who died from eating rotten food, or were murdered by Mahometans who attacked the expedition. Subsequently a fortress was established at Taytay, where a number of priests and laymen in a few years succeeded in forming a small colony, which at length shared the fate of Labo. The only Spanish settlement in the island at the date of the evacuation was the colony of Puerta Princesa, on the east coast. [68]