The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-02-12

/ position between Nindanao and Borncc.
was the commercial. political and reli-
gious centcr OF the followers OF the proph-
! e,. tho Mecca OF the cxtrscae Orient. From
! this center thcy spread to the neighboring
| arch,pelaE es. Merclless pirates and un-
iiincbing fanatics, they scattered everv.
where terror, ruin and death, sailing 10
| their light prows ZIP the narrow channels
and animated with irnpIacsble hatred for
those conquering Invaders. to whom they
never gave quarter, and from whom thny
never expected Il. Constantly beaten In
pitched battle. they as constantly took
again to the sca. eludipg the pursuit OF
the heavy Spanish vessels taking refuge
IL bays and creeks where no one could
4 follow them. pillaslng isolated ships. sur.
Z prisipg the Villages maesacreing the old
men. leading away tho women and the
adults into slavery, pushing the audacious
I prows OF their skiifs even up to within
B 800 miles of Manila, and seising every
year nearly 1000 captives.
Between Malay creese and the Castilisn
carrVnade the struggle was unequal, but
1t did not last the less long on that ac-
count, nor. obscure though Il was. was II
the less bloody. On both sides there was
I, the Same bravery, the same cruelty. II
| required all the tenaclty or Spain to purge
these sens OF the pirates who infested
them. and It was not until after a con-
| Nict of several years, In 1875, that the
Espanish squadron was able 10 bring IT'S
| broadsides TO bear on Tianggl, nest Of
| Sulunn pirates. land divlrpu OF trours,
/, invest oil the outlets. and burn the town
and its inhabitants, as we'll us tho harbor
aud all the craft within 1t. Tho soldiers
planted their flag and the engineers built
i new city on the smoking ruins. The city
was then protected by strong garrison.
For timo at least piracy was at an
H,,N ~ -
was exasperated rather than crushed by
defeat. To the rovers OF the sea succeed
cd tho organization known as 3uramenta-
dos. One Of the characteristic qualities
OF the Malays Is their contempt OF death.
They have transmitted II In their blood 70
the Polynesians. who see In 1t only one OF
the multiple phenomena, and not the SUI
preme act of existence. and witness II or
submit to 1t with profound Indifference,
Travellers have often seen Kanaka
stretch his body on a mat while In per
feet health, without any symptom OF dis
ense whatever, and thore walt patiently
for the end. convinced that 1t is near and
refuse all ncurishment and die without
any apparent suffering. His relatives say
of him: HE feels he is going to die" ant
the imaginary 0atient dies. his mind pms
, sessed OF some I, fusion, some superstitiou'
fucN, some lDNlSlpie Npuuu through WHIT
life escapes, When to this absolute In
difference to death Is united Mussulma,
fanaticisrn which gtvee tc the believer ;
glimpse of the gates OF paradise wher,
the excited senses revel in endless and
numberless enjoyments. longing for eS
tinction takes hold OF him and throws
himself like a wild beast upon his enemies
Tho juramentado kills for the sake o
killing and being killed. and SO winning
in exchange for life OF suffering AMI
privation the voluputuous existence prom
ised by Mohammed.
The laws OF Sulu make the bankrup
debtor the slave OF his creditor, and no
only the debtor, but his wife and children
are enslaved also. To free them there Il
but one means left to the husband--thl
! sacrifice OF his life Reduced to this ex
tremity he does not hesitate--he take
the formidable oath. From that time for
ward he Is enrolled In the ranks of tn
, juramentados and has nothing to do bu
await the hour when the will OF supe
rier shall let him loose upon the Chri5
. tians. Meanwhile the panditas of NOLAN