Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1899-03-17
PHILIPPINE BRIGANDS.
MOST DESPERATE FREEeooTeRs TO
BE FOUND IN THE WORLD.


Peculiar Craft Used by Them-The
MRecabebes Are the Most Lawless OF
the Tribis Inhabitiug the Islands.
According to the special correspond
ent of the Scientific American, the
brigands and pirates who infest the
islands of the Philippines and the ada
cent waters have from time immemorial
been regarded as among the most des-
perate freebooters to be found in any
part OF the world. The inhabitants Of
these islands are composed of many
different tribes and mixed races. The
races or tribes are somewhat different
on all the larger islands, and on every
one of these there are tribes that
never knew the rule of Spain. On
these islands there are no less than
seventeen, pagan and half a dozen Mo
hammedan tribes. Luzon, Mindanao,
Cebu, Negros, Mindoro, and dozen
other islands all have their lawless
freebooters, the remnant of some ma
tive tribe.
To get a correct idea of the great
bands of lawless natives who infest
these islands, 1t will be necessary
to go back to date much earlier than
the beginning of Spanish rule in these
islands. Prior to the coming of Ma
gellan, these islands had already suf-
fered several foreign invasions. But
these were peaceful ones. Away back
in early ages, the Chinese or Ingrotes
sought these islands in great numbers
and their coming proved of much good
to the islands. They had industrious
ways and soon imprinted these upon
these islands, Luzon in particular.
Later, the Indian or Tagal invasion
occurred, and these, like the Chinese,
were soon absorbed in the population
OF these islands. Thus we!e male up
the three early races in these islands,
to which all tribes can be traced.
These are the Negrote, Ingrote and
Tagal. The Negrote was the aborig-
inal race, and in many of the races the
Negrote can yet be found. In nearly
all cases the pirates and brigands are
made up of these fierce tribes. The
Tagal is, tolay, regarded as the real
native of the Philippines. This tribe
is the only one OF the early races
which, at this day, can be considered
factor in the islands.
Until comparatively late day these
islands have been the centre of piracy.
For more than three centuries Spain
has been fighting to get rid of the
pirates and subdue the native brigands,
but without success, for many whole
islands have practically always been
independent of Spanish rule, while
many tribes on the larger islands were
also independent. On Luzon, Min
danao, Negros, Fancy, Zebu, Leyte,
Bohol, Samar, and Mindoro there are
as many different tribes as there are
islands.
In the earlier years of Spanish rule
the Tagals and Yisayas gave the con
querors no end of trouble, and no
sooner had these tribes been subdued
than the Mores in the south began
lawless operations. From that time
TO this they have carried on their law
lessness, and have never been sub
dued. The Chinese pirates in earlier
days also gave the Spanish much
trouble. They captured number Of
smaller towns along the coast, and
even made attempts to capture Manila
during the sixteenth and seventeenth
centuries.
In the island of Sulu Mohamme-
danism is particularly strong, and the
sultans of the islands have from time
to time given the Spanish rulers much
trouble, but some years ago their
power was broken. During the six
teenth century the Mohammedan
tribes were particularly strong ON the
islands of Mindanao, Palawan, Tawi
Tawi aud Basilan. But the pirates of
Mindanao have always been the most
troublesome. The Mores still inhabit
the islands and live entirely independ-
ent of any outside rule.
The Mores are peculiar tribe,
which originally came from the sur
tounding islands and mixed with the
native tribes of Mindanao. The Mores
are the most warlike people of the
islands and are powerful race. They
regard all foreigners as their enemies.
This is probably due to the bad treat
ment they have received at the hands
of the Spaniards. Most OF the Mores
are well organized and well equipped.
The b rong is terrible weapon, and
with it an expert tribesman can cut a
man in half at single blow.
The peculiar native craft, so com
mon on the rivers and harbors of these
islands, are particularly adapted to
the use of the pirates. They are long,
narrow and sharp at both ends and
natives are very skillful in handling
them. They carry large sails aud
have outriggers to prevent the boat
from capsizing. Before the days of
steam navigation these craft were
easily able to avoid pursuing parties.
The brigands Of these islands are no
less notorious than the pirates, and
while the latter are pursuing their
lawless calling along the coast, the
former are carrying on their system of
plunder in the interior. Every island
has its lawless tribes which never
knew Spanish rule. These native
brigands were in many cases led by
charm men, who, even to this day, are
found among the natives.
Probably the most noted brigauds
of the islands are the Maccabebes,
who are found on a number of the
larger islands. The Maccabebes know
no law save their own. They have no
connection whatever with the insur-
gents, and natives and Spanish alike
fall before this murderous gang. The
Chinese are the particular mark of
the Maccabebes and scarcely a night
passes but what some Chinaman is
killed. Already our authorities have
begun the work of breaking up the
Ma cabebes, and quite number of the
gang here in Manila have been exc
cuted. But this is only the beginning
of the trouble with the wild tribes aud
the lawless bands OF the Philipp ines.
Married Above the Clouds.
A wedding was celebrated in cloud.
land few days ago, when Mrs. Alice
Mott Of New York, and Mayor Smith