Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1900-04-04
Tells How the Natives Buy Their
Wives.

shrubs all dressed in green, gay plu
mayed birds twittering and monkies
leaping from tree to tree, is surely 0
paradise and such is the beautiful Is
land of Jolo, one of the most southern
Of the Philippine archipelago. In area
1t is rather small, being only IL miles
wide and 81 miles long, but Is the larg
est of the Sulu group. Its climate is
delightful and healthful and unlike the
northern islands, has no rainy season
1t seldom rains at all and when it does
10 minutes after, there is not trace OF
rain left, the sun drying it up so quick
ly.
The natives (Noros) are followers
of Mohammed and are ruled over by q
Sultan, Hady Mohamad Womolol XII
ram, who is also ruler of all Moros In
the Islands, with his seat Of govern
ment on this Island, Golo). The Moro
nation is divided into tribes, each tribe
being ruled by a chief or Dato, who
occasionally clash arms with each
other. Their weapons consist either OF
Bolo, Barong, or spear, and occasion-
ally warrior is seen with an antiquat.
ed Remington rifle. The Bolo resem.
bles q machette, but is far more artis-
tic, some of them having handles of
solid ivory, inlaid with gold and silver
and valued from $25 to $50 each. The
Barong is a crescent shaped knife,
sharp ON the inner and outer edges, and
placed on the end Of long pole or
handle; making wicked looking in
strument and is used In decapitating
an antagonist, providing, of course,
the chance offers itself.
The Sultan was in town a few days
ago, and had his warriors give exhibit
tions of skill with their implements Of
war, but unfortunately, 1 did not get
a chance to see 1t. Judging from those
who witnessed it they can put up a
good hand-to-hand encounter. This is
the same Sultan, who, through the di-
plomacy Of General Bates, agreed to
accept the protection of the United
States, and offered to use his force of
warriors to fight against the Filipinos
in the Island Of Minaudao, directly
north of here, and at present the sta
tion Of the 31st U. S. V. Infantry that
was recruited at Fort Thomas, Ky.
Needless to say his services We're de-
clined with thanks. From the U. S.
government he receives yearly allow
ance of $240O Mex. ($1,2O0 of U. s.
money! to keep the peace and to give a
little dignity to his position. You
may wonder what savage would do
with so much money, but when you
think of the "Spring bonnets" and
other paraphernalia he has to provide
for his harem of 300 wives, his allow
ance seems rather small
When a native or any one else, for
that matter, wants wife, he buys her
outright, and no money back If she
don't suit A wife in this country
ranges in price from 500 to $400 Mexi-
can---that's the latest market quota
tions.
Here Is an incident that occurred
not long ago: A Chino bought himself
a wife, paying $3.50 for her, and as he
thought, had perfect right to abuse
his newly bought bride. When papa
heard of this, he came and took his
little girl back home, refundlng Mr.
Chino $50, keeping the change for his
trouble. In addition to tlis the Chino
had to pay fine in the military court
for wife-beatlng.
Nearly all inhabitants of the orient
are slaves to the tobacco habit In the
way OF smoking. Men, women and
children all use cigarettes, pipe smok-
ing seldom being INDUCED in except by
tn Chinese or Chinos as they are called
here. 1t is common sight to see the
native women, with cigarette stuck
in each ear, (Which are pierced for that
purpose) walking along, with two or
three pickaninnies following and each
one smoking cigarette.
The chief beast Of burden is the wa
ter buffalo, who, with great deal of
urging, can make the extraordinary
speed Of one mile an hour.
The island has few wild horses of
the pony type, but they are not used as
beasts of burden, except for saddle