The Van Buren press., 1898-09-10
THE sULU ARCHIPELAGO.
Islands Which spain MAY haN
to Germany ny-A Grossly I'M
moral Population.


IT, name Of the island which is
ss;5 % have been eeded to Germany
= spsin has been spelled in 50 many
z;4Fer4n, WAYS that il would be DIM
cnl, "a decide upon lis identity, were
esa not familiar with the Selu or Joio
archipelago. the principal island Of
which bears the same name, and upon
which the capital is situated. L ne
aroaD. consisting Of over 100 islands
Isas southwest OF Mindanao. the sec
and largest Of the Philippines. between
+ and Borneo. and between degrees
and a minutes and degrees ana %
minutes Of north latitude. Their area
= computed TO be about 1,o0J square
miles. Jolo and Tawee-Tawee being
the largest islands. Basilan. which Il
afsa sometimes considered Of fhe Jolo
archipelago, is situated nearest MIN
danao. Jolo lies in the center OF the
group. and Tawee-Tawee in the south
West, The island OF Jolo itself has an
area OF 3o6 square miles, being 80 miles
long from east TO west. with a breadth
o. from four to ten miles.
Formerly only a part CT the group
was under Spanish rule, but IN 1875.
after a hard tight. the remaining Is
lands were added. Tney are governed
by the sultan Of Jolo, who has pen
sion CT yearly allowance from the
Spanish government.
The population is estimated at be-
tween 10000 and $4,000. mostly Mo-
hammedans. who believe in the teach
ings OF the Koran. although following
them in 4 very lax manner. Polygamy,
as in al Mussulman countries. IS prae-
tieed only by the rich. the poor only
being able 20 burden themselves with
one wife.
The sultans and datos. 5 in the
neighboring island of Mindanao, all
have their seraglios, but are not in
the least jealous Of their women, who
in most eases are rerulsiFe TO Euro
pean eyes en- account OF the skin
diseases SO prevalent among them.
wear very little apparel, going about
in a semi-nude condition. The men are
rather fierce and warlike. and rebel
lions are Of frequent occurrence.
Notwithstanding the islands are
small, they are high. well wooded and
the soil Is very fertile. Many rare and
beautiful woods. including sandal and
teak. abound. Sugar, rice, coffee and
spices are produced in great abun-
dance. Some metals are found. Rare
shells are fshed and some magnificent
pearls.
Among he shells are the mother
of-pearl. which form quite IN impor-
tant article OF expectation to this
country and Europe. An enormous
shell, called the taelobo. requiring sey.
eral men 20 raise it. is fished among
these islands. L is Of the oyster fam.
ily. but its meat is so rank and coarse
that it is not suitable for feod The
largest have ever seen were shipped
10 this country and measured over a
yard from tip TO tip. They are util.
lied in various ways by the Europeans
residing in Manila-for flower stands.
fern eptaeles-and once I saw one
made into a beautiful baptismal font
TortoiseS, the shell of which is So much
priced for the manufacture of toilet
articles, etc, are found in great num-
bcrs.
L IS said that Joloanoes catch the
tortoise, put fire in its back TO loosen
the shell and after taking it they
throw the tortoise back into the sea
20 grow another. Wild boars and deer
abound in the islands and all known
domestic animals are raised.
The natives in general possess fire.
arms, supposed to have been obtained
from Dutch traders. They are Malays
and there are also very many China
men who have emigrated there and
who have great influence over the
natives, which is In most eases used
against the Spaniards. - Cincinnati
Commercial Tribune.