extinct
volcanoes of considerable height, and the very extensive clearings
which have been made for the cultivation of hill-paddy (rice), give a
charming park-like appearance to the landscape.
The soil is of the richest volcanic nature, and here the delicate cacao tree (Theobroma Cacao) flourishes,
undisturbed by the devastating hurricanes and volcanic eruptions, that
from time to time spread such disaster in the Phillipines and in Java."
At
Maimbung, the native capital, the Sultan of Sooloo resides, but his
authority over the people is very slight. He claims sovereignty over
and receives tribute from, the islands of Palawan and Balabac, but his
rights over Sabah, a large territory in North Borneo, have been ceded
to the British North Borneo Company for the trivial sum of 5,000
dollars per annum, including his share in the bird's-nest caves. This
is considerably ìess than his original income from the territory, and
there is but little doubt that when this concession was granted the
Sultan fully expected to receive help from the English nation to rid
himself of his enemies, the Spaniards. The presence of the Governor of
the British Colony of Labuan at Maimbung during the négociation of the
concession, would naturally
