Abstract
At the end of the 18th century, the Sulu zone and Borneo emerged as a thriving economic region. A number of social, political and historical factors contributed to their prosperity. Foremost among these was the demand from China for edible birds' nests, the procurement of which was dependent upon Borneo's tribal highlanders and rainforest nomads. They were at the lowest level of a complex distribution system for this prized commodity. At the apex of this system was the sultan of Sulu.