The Encyclopedia Americana (1920)/Cinapusen Islands

CINAPUSEN, sĕ-nä-poo′sän, or CINAPURAN ISLANDS, a cluster of 10 islands of the Tawi group, Sulu Archipelago, lying southwest of the island of Sulu; area, 13 square miles. The islands are covered with tropical vegetation, and are mostly resorted to for fishing by natives of neighboring islands. Tabawan, the largest of the cluster, is, however, thickly populated; the inhabitants carry on a considerable pearl fishery. They were at one time notorious pirates, but since the destruction of their settlements by a Spanish fleet, have been harmless and inoffensive. The islands now belong to the United States and are a part of the military department of Mindanao.