The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1899-12-02

ana the war Of the rebellion, slavery
still exists. And yet slavery in the
Sulus is by no means the dreadful
thing that the word suggests. There
are many free American citizens who
have less liberty of action and oppor-
tunity to do what they please than the
Sulu slave. The social system among
the Moros is much more. primitive
than it is among the greater part of the
other Philippine races. A chief, Or da-
to. controls district; he has his own
particular followers and his slaves; be.
sides these he may command all the
men of his own district in time of war.
He also has the right of life and death
over his subjects. For instance, few
weeks before we arrived in Jolo, Dato
Jekanine had occasion to execute one
Of his followers. The man had been
intrusted with money belonging to the
dato, The first time lie came to his.
chief and said:
"Oh, great and benevolent dato, l
have gambled away thy money; for
give me"
every weE," said the dato, ''see that
it does not happen again"
Once more the retainer came, SAYING,
"Oh, great and benevolent dato,
again have I gambled away thy money,
and again beg thee, in thy great mef-
cy, to forgive me-"
This is the second time / have for
given thee" said Jokanine, "but the
third time, warn thee, thou shalt die"
Yet again the unfortunate man re-
turned without the money he had coll
lected for the dato.
sob, date" he cried, throwing him
self at the feet of his chief, II have
sinned again and taken thy money;
mercy! mercy"
p "Cut him down" said the datO to one
of his men'at- arms. The man offered.
no resistance, and was cut to pieces
with one of the great knives of the ma
tiVes.
Another story which shows we'll the
authority of the .dato over his people is
worth the telling. 1t seems that a.
blacksmith had been making love, in a
quiet way, to member of the harem
Of Dato Jokaniue. Jokanine knew Of
this, and came to the mans smithy one.
day. The smith was just finishing off
large barong. $50
LET me see that knife" said Jokan!
inc. Then running his finger alonetheo
edge, he added, at seems sharp; mayI
try it?"
Certainly, dato," said the unsuspect-
ing smith. Without a seconds hesita.
ton, Jokanine raised the knife and
split the smith to the chin. The right
master has to kill slave is, there
fore, no stronger right than that exer-
cised by all the datos and the sultan
over the life of every man in Sulu.
Such well-authenticated stories as
these show how lightly these people
prize life. Indeed, if one freeman kills
another the murderer is brought before
one of the datos and fined $108 Next
can, or $54 gold, There is, however,
no fine for killing a slave. Slavery
among the Sulus does not originate In
difference of race or color; neither has
it its origin in war. The slaves are of
the same race as their masters, and are
for the most part acquired in payment
of past debts. Thus, if a man owes a
very large sum of money, he may sell
himself or his children to you, and thus
cancel the debt. Girls are sold for
hard cash, l believe, but it is not a
common occurrence, nor one that takes
place against the will of the girl. If a
slave runs away from his master and
returns to his original home, declaring
that he positively refuses to serve the
master any longer. the custom is for
the family to get together and pay the
debt, thus releasing the slave. Oh
course the slave is bound to work, but
as a rule, he only works when his mas
ter works, and as that is a matter Of
very infrequent occurrence, slavery in
the Sulus can not be called an arduous
occupation. The slave eats and sleeps
in the same house as his master; he ii
treated more like retainer than as
a slave. The children of Sulu slaves
are also slaves, but they have especial
privileges, and are considered family
retainers.
1t is considered a disgrace to sell one
of these slaves. In fact, it is merely
because we have no more accurate
word to describe the condition that ]
use tie word slavery" The status IL
really one between the serfdOm of the
middle ages AMI the peonage of Mexi
CO. remember seeing a very beauti'
full girl in the house of Dato Jokanine
The girl was born slave and hal
grown up a member of the family; shs
was really very beautiful, as few Sulu
/