The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-24
THE FRIENDLY SULUa
Capt. Sanders, Who Visited Jolo, Says We
VIII Have No Trouble There.

Capt. Sanders, Who Visited Jolo, Says We
VIII Have No Trouble There.
HELENA Mont. Aug. pa letter has been
received here from Capt. L. p. Sanders, who is
on the staff OF Gen. Otis at Manila. containing a
description OF his trip to the Sulu islands. Capt.
Sanders and Col. Potter were sent on the
steamer Butuan by Gen. Otis to ascertain the
situation there and the attitude Of the natives
toward the Americans. Capt. Sanders antici-
pates no trouble there whatever. He arrived
at Jolo, the principal island. on May %. Two
battalions OF the Twenty third Infantry are in
charge there. Capt. Sanders says:
We were presented to the local chief and to
several others OF the party and invited them
to witness the battalion parade. The band OF
the Twenty -third Infantry soon struck up and
tho companies formed In line. greatly. i'm
agine. impressing our visitors. The American
soldier Ia all for business. nothing for show and
bis stature and self consciousness OF strength
Appeals strongly to these people. and they I'M
con sciously show 1t when our troops appear.
think that parade did much toward estab-
fishing friendly relations.
After dinner they all came to Capt. Pratt's
headquarters. 1t was dark. and a lamp cast a
dim light about the room. We were seated at
the table. the chief and secretary on the right
and left OF Capt. Pratt and their retinue stand
ing up In the dim shadows behind. 1t was
picture shall mover forget. The secretary was
dressed like an American save that he wore
fO7 and q white skirt The chief was dressed
, in a skin tight costume Of black silk thickly
covered with gold embroidery work with
q SNOWY sash and beautifully made turban,
Through his sash stuck his barong. the envy OF
us all.
1T had an deliberately carved ONYX handle.
The grip was Of pure gold and richly carved
and tho blade Of finely etched steel. The
retinue behind. some in the costumes OF the
Moros. others seemingly right from the plains
OF Arabia. presented a most picturesque sight.
Bome OF them were in fact recently from the
Red Sea. traders wandering of to these tropical
islands,
With Mr.. Schuck as interpreter the inter-
Wow began. The secretary frat informed us
that the Sultan was sick at Siasi, otherwise he
would have come to pay his respects. The
Sultan hoped tho Americans would be friendly
to his people and he expressed his gratitude
to them for having driven out tho Spaniards.
He assured us that had the Americans not
como it was his intention to hunt them up
even II he had to go 80 far away as Singapore
10 find US.
This remark. as did many others. impressed
me with the fact OF their utter ignorance OF US
as nation.
Finally, he said the Sulu Islands were but
small and his people very poor, and he hoped
the United States would not claim sovereignty
over them. In reply Capt. Pratt. aN oiding
political questions. expressed his regret at the
Illness OF the Sultan and said the United States
would certainly befriend them. but that he
couldnot say what the intentions Of tho Govern
ment were as to taking the islands Col. Potter
thought 1t cafe to add q little more. and the
captain then said that II we did maintain
sovereignty they would enjoy such liberty as
their conduct warranted. all OF which evidently
pleased the Secretary and Chief.
Moros are altogether unlike the Filipinos.
There Is no striking feature about tho Filipino
mat riyets ones attention, but the Moro fasol-
mates and interests you from the start. He Is
Of rather dimnutive size. sinewy, 1.-THE fol-
low broad shoulders and thin legged with bold
ness defiance and haugAtiness In every move
nent OF his cat-ike tread. His dress is unique
ana has lust enough Of the Arabs costume
about 1t to bring one visions OF the sandy
DESERT. even amid these tropical lands
WIN skin tight trousers. buttoned from
knee To ankle, short blouse cut Off at tho
waist barred chest. gaudy sash, in which IL
carried his murderous barong or kreiss. anC
HalIy colored turban, he is a most curious ant
picturesque parsonage, essentially nghtinI
man. head hunter and most formidable
enemy, lie detcsts work aud subsists oil
fruit, fish and cattle, fights and hunts
constantly. compelling eaptives of othe
tHoes to do all mental labor. Slavery OK
ISIS among them. each tribe waGing wa
WIN It's neiGhbor, and the stronger holding II
Apleot slavery the vanqulshed His religion
permits him four wives. who never live will
MN but in neighboring huts. They are n tide
wafer people, whole communities living TO
E''her IN huge nipa huts built far out from
thore above the sea aud connected with tn
i"ha 10y t!ckcty insecure bridges Of bamboo
crawl"d ashore on one and could not blu
'hlhE The shakiness studied in order TO max
4 Su'prse from land more dinicut."
"a Describing a native dance he says, ~ fee
ple old man stepped into the circle Of crouch
ing Moros and laid spear on the floor Tn
) Io's struck up wild discord and fIom slo'