Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-12-19

With the absorption of the Sulu islands
I'm the Philippine archipelago, Uncle san
has assumed guardianship of some strang,
people. Being MohamIncdans, the mcr
are polyganous. The prominence of tn,
individual is determined by the numbci
of his wives Nor is he very particular
as to the methods by which he fills hi
harem. Indeed, the slave trade is still
carried on in those Islands, and many q
the more attractive women sold into cap
tivity find their way into the hurcms %
the wealthicr citizens Of Sulu. The rule:
of the Koran are laXly observed. The Ma
lay Mussulman t. fond of fire water and
partakcs of il fcnrlesSly. Nor nro the wo
men forced into the scclusion demanded
in Turkey or other parts of the Moslenl
orient
The dress OF Sulu man consists OF
wide cotton trousers and jacket of cot
ton or silk, with Il girdlc around the
waist; a piece OF cotton check drapery is
thrown across the shoulders. Tho mobiles
OH festive occasions wear gorgeous man
darins' robes OF silk embroidered with
gold, and pink satin trousers decorated
with gold dragons. The peculiar sword
called a creese is carried by all classes. For
a headdress "a red handkerchief or cloth is
arranged turban fashion. Tho men let
their hair grow long, pluck out their
boards, dye their tCcth black and shave
their eyebrows partly, so rs to leave fine
crescent arch. The women wear drawers
of white cotton or lowered silk to the
knees, and over these pctticoat with n
short jacket Of varicolored cotton cloth
that fits closely to set off their fine figures
a scarf hangs over the shoulder. The
hair is tied up at the crown Of the head.
In her interesting book on Manila and
the Philippines" Marghcrita Arlina
HRmm says:
Upon Spanish ruIo in tho far east has
always fallen the shadow of Islam, the
same fierce and fnnatical force in that part
of the world, as in every land where the
crescent has ever held sway. In the lot
terry OF nations both Christianity and Mo
hammedanism unknuwinGly competed
for the Philippines The cathedral and
the convent won thTee-fourths and the
mosque and the minaret the remainder
From very early period there had been
movement of population from Borneo.
Java ard Sumatra. northward and cast
ward into the Philippines. Each wave
which came into the archipelago net with
resistance from those already settled
there Weak or small invading parties
were defeated. and defeat in those days
meant death to the vnnquished, while the
stronger and larger parties defeated the
inhabitants and slew, captured or dis
brrsed them.
The Sulus are dark colOred, muscu- |
lar race. loving warfare, piracy and dan |
Rerous sports, They make intrepid sol I
diers. and are more feared by the Span !
iarJis than any other eastern type. One of
their pecuIiarities makes them a constant
dread To their conquerors. This consists I
of n man joining religious society and /
binding himself by an oath TO reach para |
disc immediately by killing many 1
Christians as he can before he himself is 4
killed The society has n name, but il is 1
unknown 10 the Spaniarcs- They refer TO 4
the members a the juramentadcs. or these 4
who are oath bound. The society, So
cioties. are directed by priests, called PAN
ditas.. " hose meaning can be recognized I
by its resemblance 10 pundita- These 1
drill the members ard put them through u /
regular course of trimming They are /
made TO exercise fight, with blunted weap-
ons, run, jump. climb, swim and dive,
and when tired they are told of the beau
ties of Mohammed's paradise, of the
houris. the fruits and the joys When a
nelu her has reached q stage which borders