The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1899-01-19


tau Ueen 50. put the remainder were
heavy. languid and lazy in their move.
ments and their teeth, dyed black, did
not embellish their personal appear
ance They all wore light colored dual
garments of great width and light bod.
ices. Their coiffure was carefully fin
ished, but unfortunately part of the
forehead was hidden by an ugly fringe
of hair.
The sultanato is a hereditary monarchy
under the Salic law, which excludes
women from the throne His highness
Is Mussulman by faith, acknowledge
ing the supreme religious authority Of
the sultan of Turkey, and being under
the religious obligation of all Mussul.
mans Of having to make pilgrimage
TO Mecca In order that he may do so
one of his ministers, of whom there are
three, is named as regent to act as
ruler in the event of his absence. The
other members Cg the sultan's cabinet
are the minister of war and the minis
ter Of justice and master of the ceremo.
nies.
The sultan is supreme in his author
ity over the lives and property Of his
subjects, but is advised in matters of
state by council of elders. Under him,
but not fully acknowledging his au-
thority, are n number Of petty chiefs,
called dattos, who collect tribute in
his name and pay over to the royal
treasury, not that Of Spain, but that Of
the sultan, such portion Of their rev.
enues as remains after satisfying their
own wants
The Sulu islanders and the inhabit-
ants of Mindanao will be the first
Mussulmans ever under the jurisdiction
of the stars and stripes. In the last
treaty between Spain and the sultan of
Sulu it was especially agreed that the
Mussulmans should not be prosecuted
for their religion. Efforts by Jesuits to
Christianize the Mussulman population
of Sulu and Mindanao have steadily re-
suited in failure, the missionaries, as a
rule, having been put to death.
The highest religious Office is that Of
cherif, which is hereditary post, car
rying with it temporal power. His sub
ordinates in the hierarchy are known
as pandita, title having the signifi-
canoe Of priest. The pandita wields
large influence alike in worldly and
spiritual affairs, performing the Office
of physician and officiating at the re-
ligious exercises of his faith.
Public worship is held on Friday,
when worshipers are called to the
mosque by beating upon a box or hollow
piece of wood Solemn ceremonials
mark births and deaths. At the funeral
of datto or chief the panditas intone
a weird chant, accompanied with Gym
balls and gongs and the loud lamenta-
tions of the mourners. This ceremony
is followed by feast, after which the
body, attired in white, is sprinkled
with salt and camphor and laid away
in a wooden coffin, the place of burial
being marked by wooden or stone
slab inscribed in Arabic. A shell full Of
water is placed on the grave.
The Sulu islanders follow the habits
of Mussulmans in the matter of dress.
Favorite Colors among the women are
scarlet and green. They wear baggy
dual neither garment and tight fitting
bodice and sleeves, showing the contour
of the figure, On the head they place a
narrow cloth sack open at the sides and
reaching nearly to the feet, the lower
part of which is caught up and held
under the arm. Like orientals generally
they are fond of jewelry and wear
many finger rings Of seashell and metal,
as well as large and flashy earrings
Their hair is arranged in a coil on the
top of the head Male dress is equally
bright in color, consisting of close fit
ting breeches and waistcoat, both pro-
fusely decorated with buttons, and a
jacket reaching to the hips A turban
serves for headdress Chiefs add many
additional adornments to their cos
tunes.
OF the Sulus it has been said that
"they are of quick perception, auda-
cious, extremely sober, ready to promise
everything and do nothing, vindictive
and highly suspicious of stranger e
intentions, They are very long suffer
ing in adversely. hesitating in attack,
and the bravest Of the brave in de.
fense, Hardy in constitution, their
bodies are agile and active, and they
have cultivated to a high degree the
art Of diving and remaining under wa.
ter, an accomplishment which serves
them in pearl fishing, one of their chief
industries. Their complexion is dark
bronze, their eyes piercing, foreheads
low, hair lank and worn hanging down
the neck. Agriculture and manufac,
lures are in primitive state. Arms
such as swords, Iances daggers, assegaii
and coats of mail impervious to hand
weapons, are made ut home. Trade il
confined principally to pearls, shelli
and shark fins. Many rifles have beer
imported into the archipelago from for
eign sources. All male inhabitants
above 18 years are compelled TO undergo
military service. The language used il
a mixture of Sanslrit and Arabic.
For two centuries and a half th'
Mussulmans of Mindanao and the Sulul
were pirates and source of terror Il
the entire Philippine group. Their wa
| junks, though never exceeding sever
tons in size. were skillfully navigateC
and able to make long voyages. Muir
der, rapine and the slave trade wer,
the objects of the piratical expedition
sent TO Negros, Panay, and even Il
Luzon prior to the development o
steam navigation. Countless expedi
tions against these pirates were organ
lied by the Spaniards at great cost, bu
it was not until 1860. when ;. 1S steam
| Rnnhonts were sent 10 the Philinnines