Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-11-18
SULTAN OF SULU
An American Woman's Visit to This
Now Famous Ruler.
QUAINT LITTLE ISLAND KINGDOM
Interesting Scenes at the Signing
Of the Treaty
PALACE LIKE A SHANTY
PALACE LIKE A SHANTY
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star


MANILA, October 1. 1899.
The Sultan of Suu Is now our great and
good friend This has long ago been chron-
iCled in the newspapers, which nave told that
this queer potentate of the east mas signed
a convention with us. He lives at Maybun
the capital of the Suu archipelago. with his
harem; he is virtually citizen of the
United States, and is to enjoy the protec-
ton 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 il 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 an emphatic distinction between
them and all other Filipinos. Aguinaldo's
name means nothing in the Sulu archipel-
ago. and the Spanish foothold there was
slippery. The subjugaton of this group
presented a different proposition from that
which being considered in LuZOn and
the Visayan group. Though the 'Moros'
are a more warlike people. dealings
with them have far been in the realm of
diplomacy, not of arms.
The feudal system, which was brought
to state of perfection in medieval Ell
rope has prevailed more crudely in soma
of the Pacific islands. During the age of
the CruSadeS the southern islands of the
Philippines were given part of their pnpula-
tton and language, and their religion, to
which they have chung tenaciOuSly. Traces
of Arabic and Sanscrit are to be found in
the Sulu language; it was from Arabia that
the ancient emigration took place The
Moros are subject to petty chiefs called
"dattOS,' and these in turn are 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 Spaniards
IL n -hsln hoy
finally made an agreement, the articles OF
which We're mutually disregarded. 1t was
to secure a continuance of this agreement
that Gen. John c. Bates was dispatched to
hold parley with his august majesty. Lori
Padka Maha Sori Manlana Sultan IIadji
Muhamed Jamalu Hiram.
Common Sense With "A sultan.
The general went to Jolo. across the ISL
and from Maybun, with no other instruc-
lions except to use common sense. For
several weeks he remained there without
seeing the sultan who felt indisposed. Con-
ferences We're 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, Capt
Pigman commanding, was at Jolo. and it
decided that this should take the gem
eIal to Maybun. l happened to pe one
Of a small party which was making the
tour of the islands on the government
transport Pennsylvania. There Were other
American women besides myself on hoard
and we had the good fortune to be in
cluded In an invitation to attend tho con-
ference extended by Capt. Pigman and
Gen. Bates.
American women - set foot on the Island
of Sulu but we were also TO be the nrst 10
behold the sultan
Moro Chief.
One of the most powerful chiefs on the
island. named "Datto Calvl." was on board
with his suite; we sat on the after bridge
most of the time, and as we looked down
on the deck below 1 could hardly realize
that I was not in a balcony seat of New
York play house watching comic opera.
No Italian bandits other stage heroes
who exult in the triumph of the costumcrs
art ever presented a more picturesque or
ferocious appearance than our ban1 OF
Moros. TIE physical difference between
the Moros and other Fflipinos is as great
as that of their customs and religion. Their
dress is essentially barbaric in its cut
and coloring. Instead of the loose white
shirt and trousers of the northern island
ers the Moros wear close-ftting suits of
gaudy cotton or silk. the quality and orna-
mentation depending on the means or rank
of the individual. No Moro stirs abroad
without ''barong' a kris thrust in
his sash. These knives are beautifully made
and their edges are ground as keen as
razor. The Moro sometimes uses them for
general utility, as the CUBAN uses the ma
chete," but they often employed for Il
more sinister purpose. ''barong'' deftly
handled makes short work of the life of a
human being. and the Moros are skilled in
this sort of carving.
ScOrncd Our Food.
The "Datto Calvi'' had expressed so much
friendliness for our government that Cen
eral Bates thought that he would have a
favorable influence on the sultan. But it
was impossible, both for reasons of state
and safety, for him to travel without a
sufficient number of followers to uphold his
dignity. The 'datto'' himself was young
fellow. and quite dude according to Moro
standards. He was man that would be
singled out anywhere used to command;
he strutted across the deck in a manner
inimtable, his turban of raw silk tied with
a style and strong individuality and his
clothes showing certain harmony of taste
they consisted of but two pieces The
"datto" was followed everywhere by his
betel nut carrier, who kept him continually
supplied with good Chew" his other
retainers were men at arms and dressed
only less gorgeously than the s'datto'' him