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opportunities of observing the evil effects in Labuan trade of the piratical proceedings of the inhabitants of the surrounding islands group. When I visited Sulu in Her Majesty's Ship Dwarf, about nine years ago "to expect reparation for the piratical destruction in the North-Port of Camiguin of a British Schooner of/about belonging to one Lebang of Jabuan, I found that Sulu pirates, such as Dundin of Buatun, Ubian were carrying on their operations with the connivance of leading men in the Sultan's Capital and that the Sultan (if he did not actually share in the plunder) was powerless to protect legitimate trade.
6. It was evident that open piracy, stealth, and flagrant felony throughout the whole Archipelago were restrained only by the presence of Spanish Men of War/Gunboats, three of which at that time were in the Sulu waters.
The Spanish flag was flying in the Sultan's capital. The unsettled relations between Spanish Authorities and the Sultan whilst it injured Sulu trade tended to drive the little of it that piracy left towards Labuan and Singapore.