Omaha daily bee., 1899-11-26
12 OMA
The Sultan of Sulu and
HIS Comic Opera Court

MANILA, Oct 1, 1899.-The sultan OF Sulu
is now our great and good friend. This has
long ago been chronicled In the newspapers,
which have told that this queer potentate OF
the east has signed a convention with us.
He lives at Maybun, the capital OF the Sulu
archipelago, with his harem; he is virtually
citizen OF the United States, and Is to
enjoy the protection of our army and our
navy, yet he keeps his royal residence and
keeps his harem. The story OF how he came
under our flag is now told for the first time
The largest OF the Sulu archipelago group
Is Mindanao but the potentate who rules
over the group lives on the island OF Sulu.
The inhabitants are called "Moros,' and
there is emphatic distinction between
them and all other Filpinos. Aguinaldo's
name means nothing in the Sulu archipel-
ago, and the Spanish foothold there was
slippery. The subjugaton of this group
presented different proposition from that
which was being considered in Luzon and
the Vsayan group. Though the "Moros"
are more warlike people, our dealings
with them have so far been in the realm of
diplomacy, not of arms.
The federal system, which was brought
to a state of perfection In mediaeval Eu-
rope has prevailed more crudely in some
OF the Pacific islands. During the age of
the crusades the southern islands Of the
Philippines were given part of their popula-.
ton and language, and their religion, to
which they have clung tenaciousy. Traces
OF Arabic and Sanscrit are to be found in
the Sulu language; 1t was from Arabia that
the ancient emigration took place. The
Moros are subject to petty chiefs called
"dattos," and these in turn subject to
the sultans of Mindanao and of Sulu, the
latter being the overload and claiming the
allegiance OF the former. 1t was to the sui
tan of Sulu, therefore, that the Spanards
made overtures, and with whom they
finally made agreement, the articles Of
which were mutually dlsregarded. 1t was
to secure continuance Of this agreement
that General John C. Bates was dispatched
to hold parley with his august majesty,
Lori Padka Maha Lori Manana Sultan Hadji
Muhamed Jamalul Kiram.
Common Sense with n Sultan.
The general went to Jolo, across the island
from Maybun. with no other instructions
except to use common sense. For several
weeks he remained there without seeing the
sultan, who felt indisposed. Conferences
were held with the powerful chiefs and
"dattos," and the meeting with his royal
highness was finally arranged to take place
at the palace of the sultan. The United
States cruiser Charleston, Captain Pigman
commanding, was at Jolo, and 1t was de-
Clded tnat THIS should take the general to
Maybun. / happened to be one OF a small
party which was making the tour Of the
islands on the government transport Penn
sylvania. There were other American women
besides myself on board, and we had the
good fortune to be included in an invitation
to attend the conference, extended by Cap
tain Pigman and General Bates.
We were not only destined to be the first
American women to set foot on the Island
of Sulu, but we were also to be the first
to behold the sultan.
One of the most powerful chiefs on the
island, named "Datto Calvi," was on board
with his suite; we sat on the after bridge
most of the time, and as I looked down on
the deck below I could hardly realize that
was not in n balcony seat of New York
play house watching a comic opera. No
Italian bandits or other stage heroes who
exult in the triumph of the costumers' art
ever presented more picturesque feroc-
ious appearance than our band OF Moros. The
physical difference between the Moros and
other Filipinos is great that Of their
customs and religion Their dress Is essen
TALLY barbaric In Its cut and cooring. In
stead of the loose white shirt and trousers
OF the northern islanders, the Moros wear
clcse-fitting suits Of gaudy cotton or silk,
the quality and ornamentation depending