The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1898-06-23

pam 70 see. +AllSr y Lew SoiHPliihSAi~
tary comomnplaces had been excnang-
ed, His Highness remarked the weapon.
allah has been good to you, SAIL
said he. "Those emeralds are very fine,
and the diamonds are as stars in the
ehavens. If the blade match the hilt,
you have treasure. Show 1t to me"
Thrown off his guard, S'All drew the
kris from its sheath, and holding it by
the wavy blade, presented it to the Sui
tan. Instantly half a dozen of His
Highness attendants threw themselves
upon the unfortunate fellow. He was
overpowered in q moment, and his
hands securely tied behind his back.
Take him out" said the Sultan, still
smiling.
Sail was led away and lowered to
the ground, Not a word did he utter.
1t was Kismet. Why waste his breath?
1 did not learn the manner of his end,
but it would be either by kris or bow
string. Let us hope it was the t1rst.
In the hands of skilful executioner
the kris is a merciful weapon. He was
buried in the jungle behind the Sultan
palace" Such was the susa of Mu-
hammad Harum Narrsid, lang de per
Tuan-"he who ruleth'-in the year OF
our Lord 1894 And the Spaniards were
supposed to govern the island of Pala-
want I could understand why the Sui
tan did not care to see a European so
soon after his crime However, OBJ
tanned the coolies and sent them on.
After waiting in vain for six weeks
for the steamer from Labuan, l resoly-
ed to visit the Sulu Island, or Isles de
Jolo, as the Spaniards call them. With
this intent Minco and I embarked on
the Aeolus, which carried the Spanish
mails Calling at Simagup, stockade
on a hill, about as interesting and
healthy as Marangas, we next proceed
ed to Alfonso XIII, equally fourishing
and desirable as an abiding place. At
ter leaving the Aeolus lost her pro-
peller by heavy southeaster For
three days we shifted. the steamer
dragging her anchors. Every hour saw
| us nearer to tho rocks, and we could
almost count the minutes that would
| elapse before we should be ashore,
when some one caught sight Of smoke
on the horizon and joyfully shouted
| "Canoniero!"
1t was the tiny gunboat usually dis
patched around the coast from Sima-
Cup in the wake of the mall possibly to
prevent piratical attmepts She took
us in tow, and after stiff pull got us
on the move, hauling us through line
of reef which we had escaped by a mir
acle, and eventually to the Bay of Bal
| abac, where we remained until a larger
! gun vessel came and took on board the
passengers for Sulu. Next day we an
| chored off the town of Sugh. In the
morning I went ashore with Minico.
Traversing long, narrow bridge.
with a watch tower on the left hand
and a pavilion on the right. we passed
through a couple of strong gates into
the town--a pretty little place, beauti-
fully kept. Every street was lined with
| trees, yet scarcely a leaf could be seen
on the roadway. At the end of the
main road leading from the jetty we
came to a neat square, where twice a
week the residents gather to enjoy the
music of an excellent band. Suu wo-
men, mostly in wide Chinese trousers,
bright-colored jacket of silk, with many
| buttons, and gay sarong thrown over
the shoulder, walked about freely. All
were clad in garments of the most brill
/ liant coloring, and many of them were
handsome, but they lost their charm on
closer acquaintance.
Thanks to Minico, 1 found lodging
in the house of native. 1t would have
been almost useless to ask the assist
ance Of Spaniard / never met one
who could speak the Sulu language OF
any of the dialects. 1t is not consid-
b prth to an
consequence, the supposed rulers know
next to nothing Of the natives, their
customs and wishes Everywhere
found that the people detested the
"Castllas,' some of whose laws and
regulations press most heartily upon
them. For instance, If a Tagal from
North Luzon, or Bisaya from the
south, cannot produce his receipt for
taxes at moments notice ne is liable
to imprisonment. He Is not allowed te
/ go home for it, but must carry 1t or
his person. A TagaH told me that he
was within an ace of being sent to wal
in Mindanao through leaving his tax
receipt at home. The police, he said
steal about at night and arrest natives
unfortunately in the hope of finding
some without that safeguard. This
however, does not apply to the Sulus
So far the Spaniards have failed tt
compel them to pay taxes.
Some of the larger islands are really
under the domination of the Spaniards
whose rule extends little further thar
the range of their cannon. I heard OF
large achievements being sent from
Spain but al, that time there were very
few European soldiers in the Philip.
pines. No others can be relied upon
The native soldiery are mostly LUXOR
men. Not one in a score knows the
names of his officers, or cares to know
Indeed, once asked a Spanish soldier
the name Of his captain.
"Quien sabe?" was the answer
("Who knows?')
The town of Sugh is protected by 6
loopholed wall, which incloses three
small forts. Outside there are two
large ones. The gates, of which there
are three on the land side, are opened
at there are three on the land side, are
opened at 6 a. m. and closed at 6 p
m. All natives. entering must give III
their arms to the guard at the gate
The esaward gate is closed at 10 D. m.
after which hour no native must leave
his house.
One day / ventured inland for a cou
pie of miles. None of the natives, o.