The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-02-15
PIRATES OF THE PHILIPPINES.
The Most Desperate FreeboOters to
BE Found in the World.


BE Found in the World.
Correspondence of the Scientific American.
The brigands and pirates which infest
the islands of the Philippines and the ad-
pacent waters have, from time imme-
mortal, been regarded as among the most
desperate freebooters to be found 10 any
part of the world. The inhabitants of
these islands are composed of many DIFF
ferent 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 do
zen Mohemmedan tribes. Luzon Minda-
mao. Cebu, Negroes Mindoro and dozen
other Islands all have their lawless free
hooters, the remnant of some native tribe
To get a correct idea of the great bands
OF lawless natives who infest these islands,
1t Will be necessary 10 go back to a date
much earlier than the beginning of Span
| ish rule In these islands. Prior TO the
| coming of Magellan, these islands had al
ready suffered several foreign invasions
! But these Were peaceful ones. Away
back IN early ages, the Chinese or In
glotes sought these islands in great num-
bers, and their coming proved of much
good to the islands. They had industri-
| Gus 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 absorb
ed in the population of these islands. Thus
We're made 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-
maj 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.
to-day, regarded as the real native of the
PnlIlppanes. 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 ISL
ands nave been the center of piracy. For
more than three centuries Spain has been
nghung TO get rid of the pirates and SUBJ
que the native brigands, but without sue
cess; for many whole islands have prac-
tlcally always been independent of SPAN
ism rule While many tribes on the larger
Islands were also independent On In
zon, Mndanaos Negroes, Panev. Zebu
I@yte' Bohol Samar and Mindoro there
are as many different tribes as there are
Islands.
In the earlier years of Spanish rule. the
Iagais and Visayas gave the cououerors
no END OF trouble and no sooner had these
Iaoes been subdued than the Mores. in the
South, began lawless operations From
that time to this they have carried on
thelr IaWessness, and have never been
suDdued. The Chinese pirates. in earlier
DAYS, also gave the Spanish much troutle
Ihey captured number of smaller towns
along the coast, and even made attemnts
10 capture Manila during the sixteenth
ana seventeenth centuries
In the island of Sulu Mobe r,,,,odo.,
| Is particularly
| the Islands have from time to time given
! the Spanish rulers much trouble. but some
| years ago their power was broken. During
the sixteenth century, the Mohammedan
trlpes We're particularly strong on the
ISLANDS OF Mindanao Palawan. Tawi Tawi
ana Basilan But the pirates of Minda-
mao have always been the most trouble
some. The Mores still inhabit tba is1snds
ana live entirely independent of anv ont,
| side rule ' Jul
me Mores are peculiar tribe. which
orisihally came from the surrounding isl
ands and mixed with the native tribes of
Mlhoahao The Mores are the most war
IKE people OF the islands and are a power-
| ful race. They regard all foreio-pars -.
their enemies. This is probahly AZ as a.
! the bad treatment they have received at
tne hands OF the spaniards Most of the
hores are Wen organized and well eouiD-
pea. Inc barong is a terrible weapon
ana win 1t an expert tribesman can cut
man In half at a single blow
The peculiar native crafts. SO comp,o, -,
the rivers and harbors of these isIanSs
are particularly adapted to the usa rf ~,
pirates. They are long narrow and sbern
at both ends and the natives are very Sill
Iui IN handling them. They carry LARGE
sans and have outriggers to prevent t5s
boat from capsizing. Before the davs ~
steam navigation these crafts were easijv
| able to avoid pursuing parties.
| me brigands of these islands are no Lace
| notorious than the pirates and while The
| ia'uer are pursuing their lawless calling
along Inc coast, the former are CARRYING or
thelr system of plumber in the interior
| Every island has its lawless tribes which
never knew Spanish rule. These ratiI,a
brigands were in many cases led bv the
charm men, who, even to this dav are
found among the native tribes
Probably the most noted brigands of ,bo
islands are Maccabebes, who are found
! on a number of the larger islands The
| Maceabebes know no law save their own
! Ihey have no connection, whatever. with
| the insurgents, and natives and Snanisb
alike fall before this murderous gang. The
| chinese are the particular mark of the
| Macca bebes, and scarcely a night passes
| but what some Chinaman is killed AL
| ready our authorities have begun the worl,
OF breaking up the Maccabebes, and quite
number of the gang here in Manila have
been executed. But this is only the begin
| ming of the trouble with the wild tribes
and the lawless bands of the Philippines.
| ~
Hlcks-"I saw Winston just now. He's
1 an odd stick"