New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-06-19


BY means Of discreet inquiries | learned the
nature Of his 1t IS rather common
story in the Far East. Unable to lodge the
whole Of his wives in the palace His Hlgh-
ness boarded few Of hem-not the plettlest,
| | suspect-in the houses Of his followers one
| Of these PERKS. an outcast from the Palawan
paradise through want Of room. consoled her-
self in the usual way-quite irnocentiy' was
! assured The news reaching the Sultan. he sent
| for tho yenturesome lover and smilinSly babe
him be seated opposite him. Not being alto
gether an IDIOT the man had come armed
From his sarong the jeweled handle OF his KRIS
protruded. plain to see. After few compile
mentary commonplace had been exchanged
His Highness remarked the weapon
Allah has been good to you SAIL said he's
| '"Those emeralds very fine, and the diamonds
| are stars in the heavens. II the blade natcD
the hilt you have treasure. Show IT TO me
Thrown off his guard. SAL drew the kris
from its sheath. and holding it by the wavy
blade, presented it to the Sultan Instantly
half dozen OF His Hghness's attendants threw
themselves upon the unfortunate fellow. He
was overpowered in moment and his hands
! securely tied behind his back.
Take him out said the Sultan still smiling.
SAL was led away and lowered to the ground.
Not A word did he utter. 1t was Kismet. Why
waste his breath? did not learn the manner
Of his end but ii would be either by kris or
bowstrng. Let us hope II was the first In
the hands OF a skful eAecutioner the kris is a
merciful weapon. He was buried in the jungle
behind the Sutans palace" Such was the
susa Of Muhammad Harun Narrsd, lang de
per Tuan-"he who rueth'-in the year Of our
Lord 1894. And the Spanards were supposed
! to govern the island Of Palawan could under
stand why the Sultan did not care to see
European so soon after his crime However. 1
obtained tho coolies and sent them on.
THE sULU ISLANDS
After waiting in vain for six week. for The
steamer from Lahuan I resolved 20 visit the
sulu Islands or Isles d. Jolo az the Spanards
| call thcm With this intent Minico and ON
barked the .Folus which carried the Spanish
mails. Calling at Simagup stockade on
hill. about "a interesting and healthy as Maran-
gas. "" next proc, edcd 20 Alfonso XIII. equally
hourishng and desirable as an abiding place
Soon after leaving the .Eolus lost her propeller
IN heavy southeastern For three days we
drrtcd the steamer dragging her anchors.
| Every hour nearer TO the rocks, and We
could almost count the minutes that would
elapsc before we should be ashore. when some
one caught sight Of smoke on the hos Izon and
joyfully shouted "CanOnerO"
II was the TRY gunboat usually dispatched
around the coast from Simagup in the wake OF
the mail possibly t. prevent pratical attempts
She took US In tow and after "A stin pun got
us the move. hauling us through 4 line OF
ico' which We had escaped 10y miracle. and
eventually To the Bay Of Balabac, where we
remained until a larger gun-v"ssel came ana took
board the passengers for Sulu. Next day
We anchored off the town 81 Sugh In the
morning vert ashore with Minico.
Traversing long narrow bridge with
watch tower on the left hand and pavilion on
the right. passed through "A couple Of strong
ufully kept Every street was lined with trees
yet scarcely leaf could hc seen on the roadway.
At the W. OF tho main road leading from the
jetty We came TO neat square whore twice
a week the residents gather 20 enjoy tn" music
81 an excellent band. Sulu women. mostly In
wide Chinese trousers. bright-colrcd Jacket OF
silk with many buttons. and gay sarong thrown
over the shoulder. walked about freely. some
wore the sarong oyer their heads All were
clad in garments OF the most brilliant cooring,
and many Of them were handsome hui they
lost their charm on closer acquaintance.
SPANISH TYRANNY AND INCAPArGTY.
Thanks to Mnco. found lodging in tn, house
Of a native. II would have been almost useless
to ask the assistance II Spaniard never
met one who could speak the Sulu langu's" or
any # the dialect. II Is not considered worth
whilo 10 learn them. In consequence the sup
posed rulers know next to nothing ~ th' ma
tves. their customs and wishes Every Whrie
found that the people detested III" "'astHaS.
some OF whose laws and regulations press most
hardly upon them. For instance. If a Tagal
from North LuZon. or Bsaya from the south
cannot produce his receipt for taxes ar mo-
rneni's no.ice ne j. liable 20 imprisonment II"
& not allowed to go home for II. hu; must
carry II on his person \ Tagal told me- mat
H. was within an a'r of being sent {" the war
IN Mindanao through i'aNiug ms tax receipt AZ
home Tho police. ho said steal about AT nISht
and arrest natives indis, Intimately IN the hope
OF finding some without that safeguard TINS,
however. docs not apply {" tho Suus. 80 lar
the SYauiards have failed to comp them 10
pay taxes
tn. domination of the Spaniards whose rule
extends little further than the rang" OF their
cannon | heard Of large relnforc"m'nts being
sent from Spain. but at that TIM thrre We're
very few European soldiers in the Philippines.
No others can be relied upon. Tho native SOL
diery are mostly Luzon men. Not one IN
score knows the names Of his officers. or cares
to know Indeed. once asked spanish soldier
,h.. ofb nc