the English war steamer ^^Nemesis" cast anchor at this
port, coming from Singapore. She brought on board Sir James Brooke,
commissioned to make a treaty of peace and friendship between Great
Britain and the Sultan. This treaty was presented to the Sultan to-day
in the presence of the Datus and a majority of the people, and after being
read in a loud voice it was immediately approved and ratified. I do not
think it necessary to inform you as to the tenor of said treaty, as Mr.
Brooke has told me that he would go from here to your city for the
purpose of communicating to you everything regarding this matter so
that you will be thoroughly acquainted with all the details. I understand
that they have hastened this matter in view of the recent advices con-
cerning the destruction of Bali by the Dutch troops and their declared in-
tention of taking possession of the entire coast of North Borneo, Sulu, and
all its dependencies. In letters received from my partner at Singapore
he tells me that it 'is certain they are coming, and with a large force, but
it may be not for a month or two. The people her^, in view of this
news, have carried everything they have to the interior, .and are ready,
whenever the Dutch arrive, to leave the town. We shall see where these
things will stop. Possibly we shall have another case like that of the
French before you leave Zamboanga. Wliatever you may decide to do
when yoTi receive this coramunication, you know tliat my services are
always at your disposal, and in the event of your determining to come,
there is a house here at your disposition; and I promise you a friendly
reception on the part of the residents. It is my opinion they are in
such a fright that they do not know what to do and business, of course,
is entirely neglected. My brother-in-law, who is the bearer of this, will
inform you in regard to what is going on. He goes to your town to
purchase rice for our house, to provide against a siege; for rice is dear
and scarce here. I remain, your obedient servant, who kisses your
hand. — Guillermo Windham.
Batavia, March 20, 1849. — It appears that the expedition against Jolo
is a matter fully determined upon. It is said that two steamers, two
frigates, and a corvette, operating at the present time against Bali, are
in readiness to set sail the first part of July. I expect that the pub-
lishers of the Singapore paper will publish an article entitled, "Labuan,
Sarawak, the northeast coast of Borneo and the Sultan of Sulu," by
Baron Hoeveel, published in Holland in the first number of the "Journal
for Netherlands India," during the month of January last, in which he
informs his compatriots that if the Government of Java had followed
the counsels of Resident Gronovius of Sambas in 1831 or those of
Resident Bloem of Sambas in 1838, they would long ago have had treaties
with the Sultan of Bruney which would have closed Sarawak and the
northern coast to all flags except the Dutch, and that the questions with
the English Government would not have arisen, but that now it is not
worth while to discuss it with the court of St. James. England is in
possession, and she will stay in possession if she considers it to her
advantage. He tells them to be on their guard, because if they do not
have a care the English will make another move; and he indicates the
point which calls for immediate and indispensable protection, namely, the
northeast coast of Borneo : that is to say, from Sampan Manjee Point to
the Cape of Kamongan (the Straits of Makassar), which he says are
tributary to the Sultan of Sulu. He gives information concerning the
different stations for the principal departments: Malsedu (or Kinabalu),
Manjedore and Tiroon, designating the bay of Sandakan for the first
establishment, as soon as they have taken possession of this side. He
enumerates the products of this part of the world: the pearls, the dia-
monds, the iron ^nd gold mines, the birds'-nests, the trepang, etc.; so
that he has strongly influenced tlie minds of the Dutch. And he con-
cludes by stating that in the next article of his paper he will discuss the
Sultan's possession in relation to the government of the Dutch Indies,
offering some suggestions as to how his countrymen may avail themselves
of the advantages of this rich territory. It is a truly interesting article
and appears to me no less curious than reasonable. The editor of the
Journal of the Eastern Archipelago will do a good service to his countiy-
men by making a translation of it, but it must be done very soon. I am
too busy to write a paper of such length, otherwise it would have given
me pleasure to send you one for your own use. I reiterate the necessity
for despatch, for I really believe that the Dutch government will work
for its own interests in accordance with the plans which the Baron has
marked out. The English will not relish the idea of their oriental
Government sleeping and permitting the Sultan to make, under coercion,
a treaty such as must be made in order to forward the plans of Van
Hoeveel. The vessels of the King of the Low Countries, the "Prince
of Orange," "Sambi," and "Argo," with five others, set sail on the 15th
of this month, transporting 1,800 men in the direction of Bali. After-
wards they are to carry to Surabaya, on the 25th proximo, 5,000 men
more, besides from 2,500 to 3,000 coolies, 12 cannon, 2 mortars, etc., etc.
Receive, etc.
These are notices taken from a letter to hand, from a trustworthy
person in Singapore. — Pigueroa.
Military and Civil Government, Plaza de Zamboanga. — No. 101. —
Department of Government. — Excellent Sir: — Notwithstanding the fact
that the lieutenant governor of this province informs me that he tran-
scribed and forwarded to your Excellency, while he was in charge of the
civil government during my absence in Malusu, the letter which Mr.
William Windham, a merchant of Jolo, sent me under date of May 28th,
it seems to me well to send the original to your Excellency, which I
now do, retaining a copy of it for the purpose of reference at any time.
As your Excellency may note if he will compare its contents with the
text of the treaty of the 29th of the same month of May, made with the
Sultan of Sulu by the English Consul-General to Borneo, Sir James
Brooke, there is, between the terms of the former and the spirit of Ar-
ticle 7 of the latter, a notable lack of agreement; wherefore it has not
seemed to me well to place entire confidence in the offer of Windham,
who may be suspected of partiality, and I have concluded, therefore, to
move in such a delicate matter with all possible tact and foresight and
in accordance with developments, which may become extremely com-
plicated. Considering the great interest which the agents of the English
Government show in these questions concerning Sulu and the part of
Borneo subject to the Sultan, I immediately suspected that the announce-
ment of the imminent arrival of a considerable Dutch force in the archi-
pelago was only a strategem to obtain, through suri)rise and fear, the
realization of the agreement or treaty referred to ; but it having been pos-
sible for me to secure fresh data through a different channel, confirming
those which Windham furnished me, — which latter I obtained through
Mr. Brooke and the captain of the "Nemesis," and herewith transmit to
your Excellency, — I am of the opinion now that the expedition of the
Dutch to Jolo is an enterprise fully determined upon, although it may
very well be delayed or postponed by fortuitous circumstances difficult to
foresee. In the event of the appearance of the Dutch expedition, I shall
never believe that it is with the object of confining its field of action
to punishing the place of residence of the Sultan in a more thorough
manner than was done in the attempt made in April of last year; but
that they intend to conquer and occupy the Island and its dependencies.
If this should be so, I am equally of the opinion that the Government
of your Excellency, notwithstanding its conspicuous firmness and well-
known energy, will not succeed in getting them to recede from their
purpose, as everything goes to show they have determined to carry it
out in the face — most assuredly — of our known and declared rights and
claims to the rule of that land. I venture, therefore, to believe that tlie
only way to prevent the serious detriment which would result to this
colony, under tlie wise and worthy government of your Excellency, from
the occupation of Sulu, avoiding at the same time a conflict between the
Spanish and Dutch Governments, respectively, would be, by means of per-
suasion and by taking advantage of the state of extreme alarm now
existing in Sulu, to anticipate them by a recognition of the sovereignty
of Spain, floating our national flag under guaranties which would make
impossible (without manifest violence) this proposed unprecedented ag-
gression. I am convinced that besides flying the national flag and
having the sovereignty of Spain recognized in a formal manner, the
principal guaranty must be — and I shall require it unconditionally —
that they shall agree to let us garrison with Spanish troops the prin-
cipal fort of Sulu, the residence of the Sultan. To this end I have
decided to embark in the pilot boat "Pasig" and make my way to Jolo
without delay, where, if I do not obtain the results which I have here
set forth, it will certainly not be through lack of zeal and activity, but
through encountering obstacles beyond my control or influence, and owing
to difficulties incident to the temperament of those people and the ancient
prejudices which, owing to a series of events stretching through cen-
turies, they feel towards us, as is only too well known to your Excellency.
To aid me in these operations and to meet possible contingencies —
since there will be needed there, in case of success, an expert and trust-
worthy officer — and to carry out reconnaisances and make plans which
cannot fail to be always of the greatest usefulness to the government at
Manila, I shall invite the chief of engineers of this place, Don Emilio
Bemaldez, to accompany me, if the exigencies of the service do not
demand his presence here and at Pasanhan. All of which I have the
honor to lay before your Excellency in the hope that it may merit your
entire approval. May God preserve your Excellency many years.
Zamboanga, June 8, 18^9.
Cayetano Figueroa.
His high Excellency the GtOvernor and Captain-General of these
Philippine Islands.
Office of the Secretary of tHe Governor and Captain-General
OF THE Philippines.
Zamboanga, June 5th, 1849. — Mr. Consul-General : — I have the honor
to inform you that from notices received from Jolo, it has come to
my knowledge that during your stay there with the steamer "Nemesis'^
you negotiated a commercial treaty with the Sultan Mohammed Pulajun ;
and as I am entirely ignorant of its essential clauses, and as my Govern-
ment has for a long time past, and especially of late, been in possession
or enjoyment through solemn treaties, the first made with the Malay
chiefs, masters of the coasts of Sulu, of the right that our commercial
flag be at least as privileged as any other ; and in view of the indisputable
rights which Spain has to the territory in question, rights not merely
of prescription; I have the honor to request, in view of the close friend-
ship which unites our respective Governments and which I honor myself
in maintaining, that you have the kindness to give me, officially, knowl-
edge of the said treaty and a copy thereof in order that I may forward it
to the most excellent, the Governor-General of these Philippine Islands,
without prejudice to my making before you, if the spirit of any of these
articles so requires, the remonstrances that may be necessary to uphold
the rights of Spain. — Receive, Mr. Consul-General, the assurance of my
consideration, etc.
C. de Figueroa.
To Sir James Brooke,
Consul-General of her Briiminic Majesty in Borneo
and Governor of Labium,
H. M. S. "Nemesis," June 3rd, 1849.— Sir:— I have the honor to
reply to your communication of this date; and as the quickest way to
furnish your Excellency with the information desired, I inclose herewith
a copy of the agreement recently made with the Government of Sulu.
It would be unprofitable to discuss at this time the rights of Spain to
which you make allusion, and the interests of Great Britain, which are
involved, but as the best means of preserving the cordial relations which
should always exist between the public servants of our respective govern-
ments, I propose to forward our present correspondence to the Secretary
of Foreign Affairs of her Britannic Majesty. Nevertheless, permit me
to say that my opinion is that the interests of Spain and of Great Britain
in these seas should be considered entirely harmonious and equally op-
posed to any system of oppresssion or of monopoly. — I have the honor to
be, with the greatest consideration, Sir, Your obedient servant.
Brooke,
Commissioner and Consul-General,
To His Excellency
C. DE FiGUEROA, Govcmor of Zamboanga,
Her Majest}^ the Queen of the United Kindom of Great Britain and
Ireland, desirous of encouraging commerce between her subjects and
those of the independent princes in the Eastern seas, and of putting an
end to the piracy which has up to this time hindered said commerce : and
his Higliness the Sultan Mohammed Pulalun who occupies the throne
and governs the territories of Sulu, animated by like sentiments and
desirous of co-operating in the measures which may be necessary for the
achievement of the objects mentioned; have resolved to place on record
their determination on these points by an agreement which contains
the following articles: Article 1. From now on there shall be peace,
friendship, and good understanding between her Majesty the Queen of
Great Britain and Ireland and his Highness Mohammed Pulalun, Sultan
of Sulu, and between their respectivo heirs and successors, and Ijetween
their subjects. Article 2. The subjects of her Britannic Majesty shall
have complete liberty to enter, reside, carry on business, and pass with
their merchandise through all parts of the dominions of his Highness the
Sultan of Sulu, and they shall enjoy in them all the privileges and advan-
tages with respect to commerce or in connection with any other matter
whatever which are at this time enjoyed by, or which in the future may be
granted to, the subjects or citizens of the most favored nation; and the
subjects of his Highness the Sultan of Sulu shall likewise be free to
enter, reside, carry on business, and pass with their merchandise to all
parts of the dominions of her Britannic Majesty, in Europe as well as
in Asia, as freely as the subjects of the most favored nation, and they
shall enjoy in said dominions all the privileges and advantages with
respect to commerce and in connection with other matters which are now
enjoyed by, or which in the future may be granted to, the subjects or
citizens of the most favored nation. Article 3. British subjects shall
be permitted to buy, lease, or acquire in any lawful way whatever all
kinds of property within the dominions of His Highness the Sultan of
Sulu ; and his Highness extends, as far as lies within his power, to
every British subject who establishes himself in his dominions, the enjoy-
ment of entire and complete protection and security to person and to
property — as well any property which in the future may be acquired, as
that which has already been acquired prior to the date of this agreement.
Article 4. His Highness the Sultan of Sulu offers to allow the war vessels
of her Britannic Majesty and those of the India Company to enter
freely the ports, rivers, and inlets situated within his dominions and to
permit said vessels to supply themselves, at reasonable prices, with the
goods and provisions which they may need from time to time. Article
5. If any English vessel should be lost on the coasts of the dominions
of his Highness the Sultan of Sulu the latter promises to lend every
aid in his power for the recovery and delivery to the owners of every-
thing than can be saved from said vessels ; and his Highness also promises
to give entire protection to the officers and crew and to every person
who may be aboard the shipwrecked vessel, as well as to their property.
Article 6. Therefore, her Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland, and the Sultan of Sulu, bind themselves to
adopt such measures as lie within their power to suppress piracy within
the seas, islands, and rivers under their respective jurisdiction or influence,
and his Highness the Sultan of Sulu binds himself not to harbor or
protect any person or vessel engaged in enterprises of a piratical nature.
Article 7. His Highness the Sultan of Sulu, for the purpose of avoiding
in the future any occasion for disagreement, promises to make no cession
of territory within his dominions to any other nation, nor to subjects
or citizens thereof, nor to acknowledge vassalage or feudality to any
other power without the consent of her Britannic Majesty. Article 8.
This treaty must be ratified, and the ratifications will therefore be
exchanged in Jolo within two years from date. Home Copy. — Brooke. —
Approved, etc. — Signed and sealed May 29, 1849.
Zamboanga, June 5, 1849. — Mr. Consul-General : — I have received
the letter which you have done me the honor to send under date of the
day before yesterday in reply to mine, and I acknowledge receipt of copy
of the treaty which you negotiated with his Highness the Sultan of Sulu
on the 29th May last. I have no remarks to make, Mr. Consul-General,
witb respect to the first six articles of the treaty, for the clauses they
contain are not of such an urgent character that my Government cannot
postpone their discussion if it so deems advisable; but I might perhaps
create in the future serious embarrassment to our respective Governments
should I allow Article 7 to pass unnoticed. It establishes two principles
of the most vital importance: (1st) His Highness the Sultan binds
himself to recognize the sovereignty of no power without previously
notifying her Britannic Majesty; and (2nd) to make, likewise, no cession
of the least portion of the territory of his dominions to any State, person
or corporation. With relation to the first point, and waiving for the
moment the question whether, because the Sultan is in possession, with
slight exceptions, of the coast of Sulu, tliis island must be regarded as
his exclusive domain, it is my duty, Mr. Consul-General, to inform you
that for a long time past the said Sultan of Sulu has admitted and
acknowledged himself to be under the protection of her Catholic Majesty,
recognizing the sovereignty of Spain in a public way and in ofl&cial docu-
ments which his Excellency the Governor-General of these Philippine
Islands will be able to produce at the proper time and place. As regards
the second point: I find no objection to the pledge of his Highness
having all the force of free right with respect to those parts of his
dominions lying outside of the island of Sulu, namely, the north and
northeast part of Borneo, now under the rule of the Sultan; but under
no circumstances with respect to the said, island of Sulu and its neigh-
boring islands; for not only can Spain not recognize in any power the
right to intervene in the matter of ceding or not ceding the island of
Sulu and its surrounding islands, as it is claimed can be done according
to the terms of Article 7 of the Treaty; but Spain does not recognize
this right even in the Sultan and Datus of Sulu, because, as I have had
the honor to inform you, Mr. Consul-General, these territories belong
to Spain, by a right not prescribed, by a right in no way established by
the conquest of this archipelago, but positively through the willing sub-
mission of the real natives, the Gimbahans, who do now, and who at the
end of the 17th century did, constitute the most numerous portion of
its population, whose oppressors were then and are now the Sultan and
Datus, Malay Mussulmans. At this very time the chief of the Gimba-
hans, this unfortunate and enslaved race, cherishes with respect and
veneration his loving remembrance of Spain and holds in his possession
the proofs of what I assert. This fact established, Mr. Consul-General,
I am forcibly constrained to protest, which I accordingly do, against
every claim in its favor by your nation on the terms of the said Article
7 of the treaty referred to of May 29th of the present year, since it
prejudices the incontestable and recognized rights of the crown of Spain
to the sovereignty of the territory of the island of Sulu and its surround-
ing islands, and to its sovereignty over the present possessors of the
coasts of this archipelago, begging that you will kindly acknowledge
receipt of this letter in order to cover my responsibility to my Govern-
ment. Eeceive, again, Mr. Consul-General, the assurances, etc.
C. DE FiGUKROA.
To Sir James Brooke,
Consul-General for her Britannic Majesty in Borneo
and Oovernor of Lahuan.
11. M. S. "Xemesis," June 5, 1849. — Sir: — I have the honor to
acknowledge receipt of your communication ; and as the matter in question
will probably have to be discussed between our respective Governments,
I think it better not to take up the objections raised by you in connection
with Article 7 of the treaty recently negotiated with his Highness the
Sultan of Sulu. I have the honor to be, with great consideration. Sir,
Your obedient servant.
Brooke,
Commissioner and Consul-GenpraL
To His Excellency,
(^ol. C. DK FiauEROA, Governor of Zamhoanga.
Military and Civil Government, Town of Zamboanga, No. 100, Gov-
ernment Department. — Most Excellent Sir : — On reembarking at Malusu,
March 31st last, returning from the operations which I had conducted
against the same on that same day, following instructions received from
your office in a communication of the 17th of the said month of May, the
result of which I reported to the most Excellent the Captain-General in
an official letter of the 2nd instant, No. 209, the war vessel of the English
East India (/ompany, the "Nemesis" was. sigh ted and soon afterwards
cast anchor in our vicinity. Aboard the vessel was Sir James Brooke,
Consul-General for his country in Borneo and Governor of Labuan;
and as a result of a long conference I had with the latter gentleman
in regard to recent events in Sulu — ^which conference it was agreed to
continue in this place immediately upon my arrival here — I gave him,
successively, the two communications of which I attach copies ; with them
I send to your Excellency letters dated the 3rd and 5th instant replying to
mine in terms that your Excellency will see embodied in the two original
letters of corresponding dates, which I likewise enclose herewith, retaining
copies of them, as also an authorized copy of the treaty or agreement of
the 29th of last May, also enclosed ; feeling confident that the indulgence
of your Excellency will approve my action in this delicate matter.
COMMUNICATION FROM THE SUPREME GOVERNMENT OF
THE PHILIPPINES TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE
Office of tife Captain-General and Governor of the Philippines.
To his Excellency, The Secretaiy of State and of the Office of
Gohemacion of the Kingdom, I have tlie honor to state the following, on
this date, and under No. 499.
By the communiciations which I had the honor to send your Excellency
from Zamboanga on the 23rd of June and 4th of July last, and that of
the General second in command. No. 482, your Excellency must have been
informed of the treaty which has been made in Jolo by the Englishman
Sir James Brooke, of the answer of the Governor of Zamboanga to the
latter and his negotiation with the Sultan and Datus to have the treaty
left without effect, without obtaining the least satisfaction.
It will therefore be necessary that the question be settled between the
two Cabinets, and I believe that Holland will take our part, as she has an
illfeeling against England on account of the latter's usurpations in Bor-
neo, contrary to the spirit of the treaty of March 17, 1824, between the
two countries, and must fear to see her rich possessions surrounded by
those of so powerful a rival. The communications of her Majesty's
Consul in Singapore and his conjBdential correspondence with the Gov-
ernor-General of Java, which he has forwarded to the Secretary of State,
show that the Dutch Government wishes to maintain the most friendly
relations with Spain. Although the English press in Singapore and
Hong-Kong are still speaking of a Dutch expedition against Jolo, nothing
has been done hitherto, and the favorable season for such an expedition
has passed.
As the correspondence between Brooke and the Governor of Zam-
boanga will probably play an important part in the future correspondence
with the British Government, I believe it is my duty to submit a few
remarks in regard to the action taken by the said Governor. Notwith-
standing that the objections, which he submitted to Brooke in regard to
Article 7 of the treaty, were well founded, he ought not to have entered
upon such a discussion, and much less to have particularized it in such
a way: he ought to have protested against the treaty as a whole, and to
have declai-ed it null, as made without the consent of Spain, which holds
not only a protectorate, but sovereignty or dominion over the territory.
The second defect that I find in the same letter to Brooke, is his basing
our right to the sovereignty over Sulu on the "free submission of the
true natives of the Gimbahan race, who live in the interior of the island
and are oppressed by the Sultan and the Datus." Although there is some
truth in that statement, and we might take advantage of this element
in case of a war with the Sultan, I believe that it ought not to have been
made under the present circumstances, a^, on the same principle, we
would invalidate the rights founded by us on the different treaties made
by Spain with the Sultan and Datus of Sulu. The acknowledgment
made by the latter of the sovereignty of Spain during over two centuries
and more especially in the treaties of 1646, 1737 and 1836, by the first
of which they pledge themselves to pay, as vassals, a tribute of three
boatloads of rice, as recorded in the Archives, is a powerful argument in
favor of our rights, which the Sultan has often confirmed in his com-
munications to this Government and in the passports which he gives his
subjects, on printed forms supplied by my predecessor; — I enclose here-
with a copy of one of said passports;
The British, who doubtless do not feel very certain about their rights,
try to excuse their conduct through the press, as they did when they
occupied Labuan by force. The Singapore Free Press of the 6th of July
published an article in which it alleges, for the purpose of proving that
Sulu has always been considered as a sovereign independent power, that
we said nothing to England when she accepted the cession of the island
of Balambangan, between Borneo and Palawan. Even supposing the
fact to be true, there would be nothing astonishing about it, considering
the distress and the lack of means of the Government at that time, after
the war which, but a few years before, it had miraculously carried on
against the English who held Manila and many other places in the
islands, and the work it had to do in order to put down interior rebellions,
to reorganize the administration and to reestablish normal conditions
in the provinces which had been left uncontrolled during four years
and had suffered the consequences of circumstances so unfortunate.
Furthermore, the cession of Balambangan cannot be considered as an
act of free will on the part of the Sulus, since they took advantage of
the first opportunity to drive the British off the island, when they had
hardly started to firmly establish their trading posts. The newspaper
also mentions the doctrine of Walter, which says that an agreement
similar to that existing between the Spanish and Sulu Governments does
not entirely derogate the sovereignty of the protected state, which can
make treaties and contract alliances, except when it has expressly re-
nounced its right to do so; and that if the first state fails to protect
the other, the treaty is invalidated; the author of the article adds
that this is our case, since we allowed the Dutch to attack Sulu without
interfering, or, as far as known, requiring a reparation or the assurance
that such an attack would not be renewed.
With regard to the first point, the reference to Walter is correct, but
Walter adds in the same paragraph that "the protected nation is bound
forever by the treaty of protection, so that it can undertake no engage-
ments which would be contrary to said treaty, that is to say, that would
violate any of the express conditions of the protectorate, or be inconsistent
with any treaty of the said class:" how then could Article 7 of the
treaty made by Brooke be valid, when by said article the Sultan pledges
himself to recognize the sovereignty of no power without the previous
consent of her Britannic Majesty, and not to cede the smallest part of
the territory of liis dominions to any state, person or corporation, said
Sultan having already recognized the sovereignty of Spain and the rights
of the latter over tlie greater part of his territory, in which the island
of Palawan, which was ceded to us in the last century by the kings of
Bruney is included by mistake.
In regard to the second point, the author of the article is also in the
wrong: for this Government was neither aware of the intentions of the
Dutch, nor was its assistance requested by the Sultan; and your Jlxcel-
lency knows in what terms I wrote to the Governor-General of Java about
that matter. — If I have given so many details, despite their not being
new to your Excellency it is because the article of the Singapore Free
Press may have been inspired by the British Government, and deserves
therefore not to be left unnoticed.
In the event of which I am writing, your Excellency will see the
fulfilment of my predictions, and it may perhaps be only the prelude
of events of still greater importance.
Thus I cannot but earnestly recommend to your Excellency's notice
the necessity that the Governor of the Philippines have very detailed
instructions or very ample powers to proceed as regards the Southern
regions in accordance with what he believes best suited to her Majesty's
interests and to the security of these rich possessions. In this connec-
tion I take the liberty of recommending to your Excellency such action
as our Sovereign the Queen may deem most wise on my communication
(consulta) number 359 and others relative to the same subject.
Perhaps, as I mentioned in my communication of the 4th of July
last, the only advantageous issue for us would be to send a strong expedi-
tion and to occupy Jolo, our action being warranted by the piratical
acts committed by several small boats of Bwal, Sulu; tlie Dutch may
avail themselves of the same excuse and send an expedition before us,
if, as is possible, other pancos ^ [Moro boats] have gone south for the
same purpose; but anyhow the behavior of the Sultan and Datus of
Sulu would give us excellent reasons for taking action against them at
any time.
God keep your Excellency many years.
Manila, August 16, 1840.
The Count of Manila.
His Excellency, the Secretary of State and "Gobernacion."
^Vessels up to 80 feet length by 18 or 20 beam, made of wood, bamboo, nlpah, and
rattan. The Moros arm them by placing at the two sides lantakaa and falconets, mounted
on iron swivels, and at the bow and stern, cannon set in stout pieces of timber. The
sails are usually of matting made of aaguran [a kind of palm-Ieaf], spread on bamboo
poles. (Note in Montero y Vidal's History of the Piracy of the Mohammedan Malays.)
