Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1900-01-17
The HONOR |, [ OF OUR FLAG. 7
THE FLAG FLOATS AND the SULTAN
: *@3s RULES. , !. **.ss
A Litchfield Boy in the U. S. Army De.
! scribes Conditions In the Sulu
''. .> Islands. - ~
The Customs Of Part Of the Latest
Acquisttion Of American Subjects.
Editor of Litchfield Independent:

Sam at the capital of the Sulu archi-
pelago, to the southeast of the main
group of the Philippine Islands. The
Sulus are said to contain about 1O0,-
600 people, mostly what are known as
Moros, formerly pirates, and Mohanl-
,nedans in religion. They are ruled
over by the sultan, and under him are
numerous sub-chiefs. The local gov
eminent is rather crude and smacks of
barbarism. The sultan rules with a
high hand. Various crimes that would
be lightly dealt with in so-called
civilized countries are here punishable
by death. In some cases clemency il
granted and the culprit escapes with
the loss of hand, leg, arm or an eye
or ear. A fter q hand is cut off the
stub is showed into vessel of boiling
oil, which sears the flesh and stops
the flow of blood. In this manner
crime is reduced to a minimum. It ia
not uncommon to see these MAIN, d
criminals come to Jolo minus some
part of their anatomy. They are
Stunned by their neighbors and pointed
10 with scorn. They may, and some
times do. redeem their honor by kill
ing an enemy or by being killed them
selves. In either case honor is re-
trieved. AS recently as two or three
years ago there were cases where these
criminals, or religious fanatics, would
get into JOio, and with a bO|O knife
run amuck among the population,
slashing as many persons as possible
before being cut down. Sometimes a
dozen men would be killed. These
bloodthirsty habits of the Moros k, pit
the Spaniards stationed here in con-
slant dread, and they were very much
afraid of the murderous natives.
The sultan has the best of every
thing that his. people can become pos
sessed Of. He and all his chiefs have
from five to twenty wives apiece.
The sultan himself has the pick OF
the entire country. It is considered a
great honor to the girl he selects for a
wife, as we'll as to her family. When
he gets tired of any of his wives he
sells them as slaves. AS an actu 81
fact, it might be said that the women
are all slaves. A mans daughters
are his stock in trade, and are sold
~ tho hirhoct 1,i12or, A
large family of pretty daughters is
considered a rich man. Women sell
at from IS to 81, 600 each, according to
age, beauty, etc.
We have here in Jolo about 500
Chinese and POO Filipinos and Sp$. a.
iards Even the Chinese have numb
ers of Moro slaves and women.
Great care is taken by the officers in
charge of the American garrison to
guard against surprise.
Guards are stationed all around the
walls of that part Of the city where we
are in charge, and no large bodies oil
natives are allowed to approach the
walls or gate. At O'Clock in the
morning the gates are opened and the
Moros are allowed to enter, but are
first compelled to leave their weapons
outside in an open building called the
spear market, about 100 yards from
the gate. At the gate all bundles are
searched for concealed weapons. On
ly 100 Moros are allowed in town at
one time. The gate is closed at noon
for one hour, opening again at l
O'Clock. At 5:15 p. m. there is a sig
nal given, and all Moros are required
to leave town. At 6 o'clock. the gate
is closed for the night, and is not
opened again until 6 next morning ex-
cept by order of the commanding Off
Ger.
The Chinese are the commercial ele-
ment here, and do the trafficking with
the Moros. Some of them are quite
wealthy. Great quantities of Manila
hemp, mother-of-pearl, shells, pearls,
buffalo hides and horns, rattan and
cocOanuts are handled.
An abundant supply of fruits, sweet
potatoes, chickens, eggs and fish are
brought in for sale. The waters are
full of fine fish, some that are brought
in weighing over 100 pounds. The
bottom of the ocean is mass of coral
of all shapes and colors. The water
is so clear that the bottom can be
clearly seen at depths of 80 to 40 feet.
Fruit, fish, rice and vegetables COM
prise the food O: hepeople. As there
is always plenty to- eat and clothing is
not needed, the natives are quite inde-
pendent. Some of the natives, who
live in canoes, and fish for a living,
wear no clothes at all except a big,
wide hat OF their own make, When
they come to town they dress up with
q mere rag tied around their bodies.
n The Moro women all wear pants aud
+ huge hat made Of bamboo and rat:
tan. Nearly all the men and women
chew the betel nut; When quite young
their finger nails are stained red, and
their teeth filed and stained black.
This makes them look more repulsive
than ever. &
Jolo is 9 pretty little place, with
plenty Of fine trees for shade. There
are number Of beautiful squares,
laid out with walks and full Of nice
flowers. trees and tropical plants. To