The age-herald., 1898-10-23

numbers in the islands of Luzon, Me- gros and Mindanao and in the moun- tain regions of Panay and Samar. The tribes in Basilan, Sulu and Tawi Tawi are independent and control the interior of those islands, while Spain, until re- gently, held the coast.
 In the early part of Spain's rule she was given most trouble by the Tagals, in the northern, and the Visayas, in the middle islands. They not only de- stroyed her peace on land, but fitted out craft to seize her ships, plunder them and send the crews captured into the strongholds of the pirates to be con- demned to death or slavery. After many years of struggling Spain suc- ceeded in nominally conquering these tribes. This, however, did not insure peace, for no sooner had these been brought into apparent subjection than the Moros, as the Spaniards called the tribes in the southern islands, began op- erations. They were not alone in their attacks. Several Chinese fleets at tempted to take Manila. The most dar- ing of the pirates were those that came from Sulu and Mindanao They carried their deeds of destruction and pillage to the very doors of the Spanish strong holds, and they have never been con quered. Piracy was exterminated from the northern islands of the group, but it continued with telling effect in those of the south, which were ruled over by a sultan.
 The Chinese pirates also caused the Spanish considerable trouble. They swooped down and captured or destroy ed the small towns along the coast un- til it was found necessary to build watch towers and forts to prevent the Mongolians from landing. The first Chinese pirate to attack the coast was Li-Ma-Hong. In 1594, with fleet of 62 warships or armed junks, he started for the Philippines. He sacked the vil- lages along the coast and captured many Spanish ships before he met de- feat in Manila bay. In 1862 Koxinga, a famous Chinese pirate king, threatened to invade Manila. The Spanish officials got wind of his coming and prepared to give him Q warm reception. They also prevented him from finding any allies among the Chinese population by at- tacking and killing more than 10000 of the latter.
 The sultans of Sulu have given Spain trouble from time to time, and it was not until the early sixties of the present century that the SultanS power was broken. This in a great measure was done by Great Britain, who was in the van of movement to clean out piracy in that section of the world, as had been done elsewhere. She was ably seconded by the other powers.
 As early as 1895 the sultan of Sulu became a thorn in the side of the Span- iards. He held sway over a large part of northern Borneo, nearly all of Min danao, the islands of Palanan, the Panguitarang, Tawi Tawi and the Ba- silan groups. His subjects in Sulu num- bered about 100000, while in his vassal lands there were more than 100000 who obeyed his commands and paid him tribute. He levied tribute on the Europeans as we'll as the natives and was a terror to commerce even on the China coast. His powerful fleet of fast vessels infested all the waters of the archipelago, and many foreign ships became his prey.
 The vessels then used by the pirates and even now employed by those who remain are of peculiar type and well adapted for the purpose for which they are intended. They are long and nar- row and sharp at both ends. They |