A quarter of an hour after our arrival Mr. Wyndham, whom we had met on our previous visit, came on board, and brought us the little news he possessed, that Sulu was perfectly tranquil, and that the Dutch, with two small vessels, were gradually extending their claims along the east coasts of Borneo, that the Governor of Manilla had protested against the Dutch interference in Sulu, and that the pirates of Balignini were utterly rooted out of their old haunts on the islands of Tonquil and Balignini. But it was a mistake to imagine that the Spaniards had killed or taken prisoners the whole number, for very many escaped and retired to Sulu. Mr. Wyndham was startled on hearing of the expected arrival of an European enemy, and uttered many exclamations as to the injustice and barbarity of attacking an inoffensive people, and asked many questions as to the profit of making this aggression, though he was scarcely surprised, as he had known they had long desired the eastern coast of Borneo, and that they are endeavouring to obtain a show of right for its seizure, as by them our ancient claim is no longer remembered.
At four, we left the Nemesis with Mr. Wyndham, to visit datu Molok, the prime minister. We pulled in for the little creek in the centre of the town, passing many new houses lately built by the Chinese. Mr. Wyndham told us that he found them very troublesome competitors; as, spreading themselves over all the neighbouring islands, they offered apparently higher prices for produce than he could possibly do; so he obtained from the sultan an order for their recall to the capital. I say apparently higher prices, for by means of false weights and the tricks usually practised by the Chinese, they were enabled to outbid the honest European. Yet I fear that in this there is much commercial jealousy, and that the injury done to the general trade by the restriction is much greater than the profit to the individual.
As we passed before the fort I could see numerous guns displaying their adamantine lips through the embrasures; and I learned from our companion that the Sulus possess about 150 brass guns, besides innumerable iron ones. In the market-place, crowds of armed men were assembled, looking eagerly and anxiously at us. We landed at the little bridge, and learning that Molok was at the sultan’s palace, we proceeded thither, escorted by about half a dozen men armed with long spears, and followed by a crowd of men, women, and children. We soon arrived at the fort, and then entering the old audience hall, found it in much the same condition as before, quite as bare of ornament, with the old round table and white cloth, and the chairs arranged around. Datu Molok was present, with a few others; and we had nearly arranged about the salute when the sultan entered, and it was settled that it should be given the next day.
The news of the Dutch having taken Bali made them all look at each other with marks of great disquietude, and when they heard of the amount of the Dutch force which was expected to visit Sulu, their uneasiness was clearly to be seen under their assumed quietude. The sultan appeared in better health, but the heaviness of the lower part of his face gives him a stupid look, and his long jacket of white silk did not suit his pale appearance. Having taken our leave, we retired, and returned to the ship; but Sir James Brooke, being anxious to see some of the datus that evening, sent us on shore again to arrange a meeting with Mr. Wyndham: but Molok, being then with the sultan, smoking opium, we went to datu Daniel’s.
For a couple of hundred yards from the shore the water was so shallow, that we were compelled to be dragged along over the sand in Mr. Wyndham’s flat-bottomed boat. Walking a few hundred yards inland to the left of the town, on the road to the race-course, we came to the house. It is surrounded by a stockade some thirty feet high; there were two long iron eighteen-pounder guns to defend the approaches, but only one was mounted, though there were two brass ones ready for service in his verandah. A wretched-looking pony, and a man with a chain round his neck pounding rice, were the most remarkable features of the place.
Having mounted some high steps, we entered the house, where we found datu Daniel lying down on his bed, suffering from an attack of intermittent fever. He sat up, however, and talked a little, expressed his regret that he was unable to come on board and see the Rajah, but sent one of his people to Molok to arrange a meeting. The room we entered was large, some fifty feet long by twenty broad, with a raised recess on one side fifteen feet square. A native bed, thirty feet long and twelve broad, occupied the greater portion of the room; it was divided in two by a curtain, and resembled more a large raised room than a bed. At the end were long shelves filled with packets of goods, small boxes, and innumerable articles which I could not distinguish, while around were hung the datu’s handsome jackets, sarongs, trousers, krises, and other finery for state occasions. Four gun-cases were piled at the side of the bed, while in the recess above mentioned, and about the room, were forty or fifty boxes, containing his valuable property; there was a ladder, also, which led to the loft.
Chairs were provided for us; but, with the exception of the bed covered with beautiful mats and the handsomely-ornamented pillows, the whole place had an air of discomfort, a sort of musty look. The bed itself is no doubt the datu’s chief residence; we could only just see the head of the farther half, as a blue curtain was drawn across, concealing its beauties and its treasures. Around the room were arranged several dozen brass spittoons, as if the chief were accustomed to give large parties. Some of the women and young girls came to the doors to look at us; a few were tolerably good-looking, with their dark eyes and black hair, but the generality were like the Malays.
Returning, we were, as usual, very much stared at, but little followed. We walked behind some of the stockades, but saw that nothing had been done either to repair them, or to mount the guns, which lay grass-covered in every direction. As they were those captured from the English when Balambañgan was taken, it is probable they were too honeycombed to be of any use. We remained at Mr. Wyndham’s house waiting for Molok’s answer, which came at length, mentioning nine as the hour.
The news of the intended visit of their last European enemy must have spread very rapidly; boats were plying to and fro from the palace and outside houses, bringing all the valuables on shore. As Molok sent a message that he could not come, we had a long talk with Mr. Wyndham, who frankly confessed he was a Spaniard in heart, as he thought they were more likely to settle the affairs of these countries than the English, but added, for some reason he could not fathom, there was an unconquerable prejudice among the Sulus against the Spaniards. It is no doubt an hereditary feeling, for these islanders and the Castilians have been constantly at war for the last three hundred years; the latter endeavouring to subject them, and the former supporting their independence with great determination.
By the treaty of September 23rd, 1836, the Spaniards offered their protection and the assistance of their army and navy to support the sultan and repel any enemies who might attack him, and the sultan of Sulu accepted their friendship and protection. This article the Sulus considered the Spaniards had failed to carry into effect, as the spirit and letter of the treaty bound Spain and Sulu to consider their respective enemies as perpetual foes, except that the Sulus were not required to support Spain in an European war.