Notwithstanding Soung was once the Mecca of the East, its people have but little zeal for the Mahomedan faith.  It was thought at once time that they had almost forgotten its tenets, in consequence of the neglect of all their religious abservances.  The precepts which they seem to regard most are that of abstaining from swine’s flesh, and that of being circumcised.  Although polygamy is not interdicted, few even of the datus have more than one wife.

Soung Road offers good anchorage; and supplies of all kinds may be had in abundance.  Beef is cheap, and vegetables and fruits at all seasons plenty.

Our observations placed the town in latitude 6 deg. 01’ N., longitude 120 deg. 55’ 51’’ E.

Having concluded the treaty and other business that had taken me to Sulu, we took our departure for the Straits of Balabac, the western entrance into this sea, with a fine breeze to the eastward.  By noon we had reached the group of Pangootaaraang, consisting of five small islands.  All of these are low, covered with trees, and without lagoons.  They presented a great contrast to Sulu, which was seen behind us in the distance.  The absence of the swell of the ocean in sailing through this sea is striking, and gives the idea of navigating an extensive bay, on whose luxuriant islands no surf breaks.  There are, however, sources of danger that incite the navigator to watchfulness and constant anxiety; the hidden shoals and reefs, and the sweep of the tide, which leave him no control over his vessel.

[Cagayan Sulu.] Through the night, which was exceedingly dark, we sounded every twenty minutes, but found no bottom; and at daylight on the 7th, we made the islands of Cagayan Sulu, in latitude 7 deg. 03’ 30’’ N., longitude 118 deg. 37’ E. The tide or current was passing the islands to the west-southwest, three quarters of a mile per hour; we had soundings of seventy-five fathoms.  Cagayan Sulu has a pleasant appearance from the sea, and may be termed a high island.  It is less covered with undergrowth and mangrove-bushes than the neighboring islands, and the reefs are comparatively small.  It has fallen off in importance; and by comparing former accounts with those I received, and from its present aspect, it would seem that it has decreased both in population and products.  Its caves formerly supplied a large quantity of edible birds’ nests; large numbers of cattle were to be found upon it; and its cultivation was carried on to some extent.  These articles of commerce are not so much attended to at the present time, and the beche de mer and tortoise-shell, formerly brought hither, are now carried to other places.  There is a small anchorage on the west side, but we did not visit it.  There are no dangers near these small islands that may not be guarded against.  Our survey extended only to their size and situation, as I deemed it my duty to devote all the remainder of the time I had to spare to the Balabac Straits.