The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-02-03

Through the courtesy OF Mr.. ]. Har-
yey pevore, the 1ntellIgencer Is permit
ted to reproduce this morning very In
teresting letter he has just received
from his brother, Capt. B, B. Devore, Of
The regular army, who ID now serving
Ia the Philippines. The letter follows:
JOLO, Jo!o Island. Philippines, Dec:
8, iSSS.-This Is the principal island OF
the sulu archipelago group. and Is the
residence OF MOhammed TamaJamalu
Siran, sultan OF the Sulus, who 10 ruler
0f 40 islands, Of 10000 subjects and
dozen wives Under the Bates treaty
the sultan, his wives, his people ana the
| $4,000 slaves in his islands are now SUB
lects Of the United States. ne Is
known by many titles other than sui
IAN, sttch as ''The Stainless One" 'The
spotleSS One, "SThe Mountain OF Light
etc His dress is simple, consisting OF
one garment, somewhat after the FASH
ion OF q modern nlght-shirt. He IS
short, fat man, with round, boylsh face
and large eyes presenting very ordl-
l nary appearance, He lives in small
house, protected by thick stone wall
ten feet high. The first ioor contains
only one room, large, bare apartment;
the sleeping rooms Of the palace" are
IN the second story. He lives In plain,
Gimple manner, without pretention' as
90 all the Moros, who are OF q very low
order OF intelligence. and all they seem
10 want Is to be let alone; any InnoVa-
lions, though intended for their bet
termeElt, appear to annoy them.
f1Nhht unt1 ID riHh and would grow nnX
tropical fruit, hut NOTHING is cultivated,
except In an Indifferent, careless man
ner. A coffee plantation, just yielding
Its first crop, is an exception, and the
planter Is pleased with his success.
Several improvements have been In
RuFur&ted recently, and much IL needed
TO bring any sort of order and system
out Of the present primitive condition OF
things.
Owing to the continued and excessive
rainfall, the atmosphere is always very
humid Clothes are ruined in q short
time by mildew, unless the greatest pre-
caution is exercised to prevent i. Some
papers In the pocket OF coat hanging
up IN my quarters, became saturated
with moisture, absorbed from the air,
and water was condensed In such guam
tlty that 1t drlpped from the skirts OF
the coat. The sun Is very hot. but
shade trees are plentiful, and break the
force OF the heat to some extent.
Jolo sea, which borders the island on
the north, is smooth, and seldom RULED
BY storm, this section Of the Philippines
being out of the typhOon district.
The Pearl Fisheries.
This Is the center Of pearl fishing. The
shells, mother OF pearl, usually AFFORD
enough revenue to pay all expenses. so
that all the pearls found are net profit.
The sultan formerly selected the best
specimens for granting the privilege Of
a8hing, but he Is steadily losing power
and prestige.
The women are practically slaves.
bought and sold az merchandise. and
perform the same sort Of labor as the
men; though It might be said to the
credit OF her sex, as In civilized coun-
tries, she often does her work neater
and better. and with more speed than
her brothers. It might also be said,
with the utmost respect and admiration
fnt enlightened womanhood, that these
bFOwn.slEinned women are much more
vigorous and healthful than her fair
aud lovely sisters who live beyond the
sens. This Is not accounted for by
reason of climate, food, religion or medl-
cine, but because She Is not envlroned
With modern educated" dress. She Is
bllssEuIly ignorant Of stays OF steel and
iaces of cotton or silk, which add style
and form 10 lovely London ladies',
adorned with, or enviOus of, pretty Paris
patterns. American women who have
been TO Europe, and few milllners
Who have not been there, have observed
Che llscomfOrtS of physical compression,
as daily demonstrated by living models,
~ the demands of society,"
The Moro Is incident by nature. and
lives very simply, on fruit and rice. He
rOves about. making use Of whatever lie
can md, not absolutely pre-emPted. He
- q primitive trader in crude products,
and still practices piracy. The native
who is now pilot on our launch is an
ex-pirate OF considerable notoTiety.
Wicked and gavaEe man that he was,
plpnderlng and robbing at any cost OF
life. II appears that his nefartouS con-
tact With better people opened his eyes
| "a his own fnerclless depraVIty. A higher
ldea possessed him. and he Tevolted at
his Ignoble occupation. He Is delight
ed now with his own reformation, thus
demonstrating, without knowing 1t, the
ehulgence OF Gods law to His people,
| IN all lands who have been transformed
from the world OF the wicked to the
realm OF the good. This man thinks
much more OF himself, which begetS a
better feeling from his superiors who
give him employment, and get honest,
faithful service from him,
no Cypress them would be to invite re-
venge, and, like Hugos Claude Gueux,
but with a thousand times less reason,
they would stealthlly alay the white
man. knowing theIr own execution
would follow. believing themselves to'be
! rnnrtVr0
80 spaniards Checkmated.
The spanIards were preparing TO turn
/ this town over to the sultan, and would
have done so. II they could have gotten
away before our troops arrived. Four
Companies OF the T'wenty-thlrd infantry
came here to take charge OF the island
without knowing any OF the conditions
10 be confronted. The SpaniRrdS and
NOros were not on friendly terms; but
Ire hostile feeling which obtained
among the Moros has mellowed into
/ 1deming tit may be rcaD friendship for
lug, Shrewd. tactful, honest diplomacy
Outlines results in better terms and con-
dltlons than can be obtained by bullet
N~NaN.INNNAr~~0eNT
I z ,