Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-06-09

that another does not the latter Is angry.
They are like children in this respect.
When our officials first came to Jolo they
had a bicycle with them, and were about
to take it out and exhibit 1t to a party of
Moros. when Mr.. Schuck. the Interpreter
advised that the show be postponed until
Dattos Jokanine and Kalbi arrived. as they
would resent 1t II the others saw the BIZ
cycle first.
As to their women. the Moros will not toll
crate interference and the soldier who at
tempts to court one Of their black-teethed
daughters or wives will in all proba bility
be killed. and may at the same time bring
on war. One dare not touch a girl in any
way and even to look at one is not con-
sdered polite.
The Spaniards and the MOros.
There is now friendship between US and
the Moros. There was nothing Of the kind
between them and the Spaniards The
Spaniards treated them like dogs. They
had their dead lines about their military
posts and the Moro who stepped over one
of these could be shot without warning.
The Spaniards as a result did not dare to
go into the country and so we have today
the whole Of this great Island Of Mindanao
UNEMPLOYED and undeveloped
Our kindness to the Moros surprises
them. The other day Col. Petit was stand
Ing on the wharf at Zamboanga when he
noticed bright little Moro boy at his feet
While waiting for a boat he amused him
self by asking the little one questions, Of
ferins 10 buy him Of his father for 10
cents. The boy was afraid at first. but
este- time he in turn questioned the col
onel as to who he might be, saying in his
poor Spanish, listed Espagnol?" NO,
replied Col. Petit.
listed Americano?" Are you an Ameri-
can? asked the boy.
''Si'' yes. was the reply.
Officer. captain?' said the boy.
mo" said the colonel.
listed no colonel. gubernadorr' was the
next question put tremblingly.
Yes was the reply.
AT this the little fellow was terrified at
his presumption in addressing the gov
ernor. He could not realize that so great
a man would talk to a boy, and finally said
that the Spaniards did not do that way,
but kicked and cuffed him about.
The officers here are trying to encourage
the good will Of the people. They do not
make any more demonstrations of their
arms than is necessary. and near Zambo-
anga they go about among the Moros UNI
armed. 1t Is the same on the Island OF
Sulu. but 1t should not be so here at
Parang-Parang. Indeed. I think 1t is a
question whether 1t should be SO anywhere.
The Wonders of Civilization.
The soldiers who were killed in Bongao
were undoubtedly murdered for their guns.
Our weapons are a surprise to these people,
and the great ships and big cannon on them
fill them with dread. They are surprised
at our size, for we are head taller on the
average than the Filipino and bigger than
the Spaniards. The mules are as great
curiosties as elephants and all modern in
ventions are new things here. Ice is one
of the greatest Of wonders. The Moros had
never heard Of 1t. and when an ice machine
was erected in Jolo the Sultan Of Sulu be-
came almost panic-stricken. He could not
understand how out of fire cold could come.
The Ice machine was put up by a civil en-
gineer. Mr.. Cherry of San Francisco. and
as soon it was working the sultan came
to see it. He would not go near 1t. how
ever. unless Major Sweet was with him
and would not touch the ice until he saw
the major pick up piece in his own hands.
We find that the Moros are very good
traders. They come about the ship to sell
arms and increase their prices according to
the demand. They understand what silver
is, but few Of them appreciate the value Of
gold. Datto Piang. the half Chinese datto
Of Cottabato. is an exception. He wants
all the gold he can get and Is always ready
to exchange silver for 1t. He bought five
ten-dollar gold pieces the other day to use
as coat buttons and he now swells about
with the American eagle flying all the way
from his neck to his waist
1t Was nm American Flag.
Speaking Of Americanism among the
Moros reminds me that have not told you
Of curious incident that occurred when
Datto Baqui was ousted from the fort at
Parang-Parang. Before he left the datto
insisted that his flag should be run up side
by side with the American flag. Little
things of that kind mean much among
these savage people. and the officers were
at first disinclined to permit 1t. They did
not know what the datto's flag might be,
and visions of the piratical black jack and
other barbarous emblems passed through
their minds. At last, seeing that there
would probably be trouble If the request
was refused, and wishing to avoid any ap-
pearance Of strained relations. they con-
scented, and Baqui ran up his flag. And
what do you think 1t was? It was the
stars and stripes. Old Glory. the emblem Of
the American Mohammedan Moro beside
that of the American Christiani
Nearly every one Of the high-class dattos
now has his American flag and they float
them At the mastheadp Of their barges of
war. FRANK q. CARPENTER