The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1899-02-11
The Pirates and Brigands of the Phil
ippines.


the islands of the Philippines and the ad-
iacent waters have, from time immemorial,
been regarded as among the most desperate
freebooters to be found in any part of the
world. The inhabitants of these islands
are composed of many different tribes aud
mixed races. The races of 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 seven
teen pagan and half dozen Nnhammedau
tribes Luzon, Mindanao. Cebu, Negrus
Mindora. and dozen other islands all have
their lawlesS ircebootcrS. the remnant of
some native tribe.
To yet a correct idea Of the great bands
of lawieSs natives who inteSt these islands
it will be necessary to 90 back to a date
much earlier than the beginning of Spanish
rule in these Islands Prior tu the coming
OF Magellan. these islands had already sut
fered several foreign invasionS But these
were peaceful ones Away back in early
ages. the Chinese or IngloieS sought these
islands in great numbers and their coming
proved ot much good TO the islands They
had industrious wavS aud soon imprinted
these uron these island, Luzan ~ pariic-
uiar Later. the Indian OF Tagal invasion
occurred and these Ike the Chinese, were
soon absorbed in the population Of these
Islands Thus were made up the three
. IL IL, Ill
tribes can be traced These are the Ne
.rote, Ingrole aud Tagal The Negrote
vas the aboriginal race aud Ia many Of
the races fhc Negro,e can vet be found
In nearly al eases the pirates and brisands
are made mp nf these fierce tribes The
Tacal j.. teiay. regarded a. the real native
Of the Philippines Thj, tribe i the ouly
one uS the early RAVES which, at this day
can be considered o factor in the islands
Until comparatively late day these Is
hui, have heyn the center Of piracy.
Far more than three CENTURIES Spain has
been hsh'iug 20 g,t rii of the pirates aud
>ubdue the native brisandS, but without
suo-,--s ter many whole Islands have pr.sc-
tirslly always beer independent Of Spanish
rule. while mauy ,ribe> uu the larger l.
land, were al>u independent On luEau.
Niuianao. Negrys. Paney Xeba leyie
Bohol. >amar and Miadoro there are a.
a1ny different tribe, a. ,her, ar, Islands
In the earlier year, Of Spanish rule, the
Tagal. and \isayas gave the conqaerur> uo
end ~ gr1uhle and uo ~o"uer had these
tribes ta.n >rbdagi than che Mor,> in the
south. began lawless operations. From
tha; time 70 this, Ihcy have carried On
;heir awles,n,z,s- and have never been
subiucd The Chinese pirates IN earlier
iays. al~s gave the Spanish much trouble
They captured unnhcr of smaller towns
aloog the c,lsst. ani even made attempts
to capture Nauils during the sixteenth and
seventeenth centuries
In the ISLAND ai Sglu. Muhamms,ianisgn
Is particularly strong, and tbs sultaus "t
the island. have. from time 60 time, gwen
the Spanish rulers much iruable. ba, some
year. ago their power was br1ken nur
in the sixteenth crntnyy, the Noham
uss,iaB tribes wers particularly -tung on
the ISLANDS of Niudanao. Palawan. TAwi
TawJ and Ba>ilan BIZ, the pirates az
Nindauao have slway, b,,n the ma~t
troublesome The Mur,@ >,ill inbabi; the
islands, and live entirely indepen,ieu, e
ans outside rule
The More are peculiar trihc which
arigiu4lly came from the surrounding Is
lands anil mixed with the native tribes ii
Mindauaa The MoF,-, arr the uust war
Ike people of ,ha i-lani- and are a power
fal race They regard all foreigners a
their enemies Ths, i. probably due g. the
bad treatmeu, ,bey have rccriyy,i at she
hand, ut she Spauiarsis. Most 1T the
Morrs arr well url.ansE,,i sni well equipped
The barone !, a terrible weapon, and with
IL an expert tFib,au,sn can cut a man IA
hslf Al a single blou
The peculiar native crafts, -o csmmen
ou the river and harissr> 81 these Islands,
arr particularly adapted 20 the use Of the
pirates They arr luug, earroW and sharp
ai bath end- and the native, are very skill
.ul IN handling them They carry large
saii- and have nut-rixEers Co prevent the
bo1t tr1m caEeisinE Before the days gf
steam navigation these crafts were easily
able 10 avoid pursuing parties
The bJisand, of thee,. island, are no les
notorious than the pirates, and While she
latter are pursuing their hwles> calling
along the coast, the former are carrying
on their system uf plumber in the interior
Every island has its lawleSs tribe. which
never knew Spanish rule These nsiive
bricaud, we're in many eases led by the
charm men. who, even to this day. are
found amon2 the native tribes
Probably the most noted brisand, of the
Islands are the Nac,7,bebe-, who are found
ou a number ot she larger islands, The
Naccabeb,- Auow no hS save their own.
They have no connection, whatever, with
the insurgents and natives aud Spanish
alike fall before this murder,us gang. The
Chinese are the particular mark of the
Marc.,hebes. and scarcely a night passes
put what some Chiuamau Is killed ii
ready cur authorities have begun the work
af breaking up the Maccabebes. and quite
a number of the gang here ia Manila have
been executed But this l. only the be
ginning Of the trouble with the wild tribes
aud the lawless bands of the Philippines.