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From the Sual the path makes an ascent of 3 miles on a rocky hillside to Almora, which is 36 miles from Kathgodam. Almora used to be a Gurkha stronghold, and is now a charming little hill station situated some 5300 feet above the sea-level. The town and the civil and military station are built on a saddle-backed ridge which is about 2 miles in length.
Until 1848 from eight hundred to fifteen hundred individuals are stated to have been carried off yearly by the Moros. This trade, as well as that with Sulu, is entirely in the hands of the Chinese, who alone possess the patience, adaptiveness, and adroitness which are required for the purpose. In 1868, when the harvests in those countries turned out good, Sual carried on only a coasting trade.
After crossing this by a stone bridge, the path continues its switch-back course upwards on a wooded hillside to the Laldana Binaik pass, whence it descends gradually for 6 miles, through first rhododendron then pine forest to the Sual river. This river is crossed by a suspension bridge.
In 1831 a custom-house was established at Zamboanga, on the south-west point of Mindanao; and in 1855 Sual, in the Gulf of Lingayen, one of the safest harbors on the west coast of Luzon, and Iloilo in Panay, were thrown open; and in 1863 Cebu, on the island of the same name, for the direct communication with foreign countries.
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