The times., 1898-06-26

crawled up the bamboo Iadder-the ''pal-
ace stood on the usual Diles-crossed
the veranda and in the furthest apart
ment found His Highness of the many
titles sitting cross-legged on a divan.
The Sultan was not in state attire. at
| least there was no suggestion of the I'M
peral yellow in his ciose-fitting white
! trousers and vest, slippers embroidered
with Seed-pearlS and scarlet fez- The
two attendant mobiles were much more
gayly clad Both wore tight jackets of
blue silk, decked with gold buttons and
trousers of salmon red, ornamented with
buttons of gold or gilt from the knee
downward.
His Highness who appeared to be about
fifty years of age, had rather a pleasant
expression, with O twinkle in his eye
that reminded me of Arab Pasha.
chair was brought also yermouth and
chocolate. With a cup of the last in my
hand, 1 explained the purpose Of my
visit. which was TO crave the Sultan 5
assistance in exploring Marangas Noun
tain. Smiling, he promised as many COO
lies as ! needed, and l took my leave.
The ex-Sultan of Sulu is ah-powerful in
Palawan. The Spaniards nave no real
authority, and never interfere with the
natives, except when Europeans or Chi
namen are concerned. Some idea of the
situation may be gathered from the fol-
my stay in Marangas. The sultans son,
I boy of ten, desiring 10 visit Lieut. Gar
cia came with a crowd of retainers at
his heels, all armed to the teeth with
guns, pistols, spears and the seldom alb
sent kris. Every man pressed into the
stockade. Had the Spaniards tried to
keep them out. there would have been a
fight. The danger was great, but all
passed quietly although few weeks be-
! fore a Sulu who had stolen by the sem
tries ran amuck at the lieutenant who
would have lost his life within his own
stockade had not half dozen soldiers
come to the rescue. At that time there
was fighting almost daily in the Sulu
Islands and in Mindanao.
AS soon as the coolies promised by the
sultan arrived, I set out for Marangas
Mountains, no great distance. The heat
was tremendous we pressed forward,
first through tall "aiang-alang" grass,
and then up the bed of a mountain
4 stream. strewn with powders big and lit
! tie, many sharp as knives. striking into
the jungle after travelling some hours by
/ the river. we found a track and follow
ing it, presently arrived at a native hut
/ "a mere roof on four poles. open at the
sides, back and front to all the winds
that blew. The owner, very old man.
naked, except for breechcloth, made off
at once; but on Minico ordering him to
stop. the poor Fellow came to a halt,
shivering with fear. However, at the
sight of little tobacco and cloth his
weatherbeaten face wrinkled into a
smile, and l soon persuaded him to guide
US up the mountain. lie red US to vii
lage, whose inhabitants fled shrieking
but again a little tobacco acted like a
charm; we made friends and obtained
shelter for the night. invited guests.
Everywhere the people seemed wretch
edly poor and their habitations were the
worst novels / had seen in the Far East.
I But these aborigines have no settled
places of abode. They sometimes throw
a hut together, cultivate a tiny plot of
ground for year. then move on. The
majority are always wandering about.
AS for the Sulus, they appear to do no
work at all; when they are not robbing
the inland natives they pass the time in
iaments for the bad olc Gays when they.
the Orang Laut, ruled the seas far and