Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-06-04
FREE BORN MOROS.
Interesting Chnrncteristics of These
Picturesque MOhammedan

From Golfers Weekly.
OF all the puzzled people who have re-
Gently seen the new flag of the United
States rise over them. the Moros of the
southern Philippine Islands are the most
interesting and peculiar.
All Mohammedans were Moors or Moros
to the Spaniards of the early days; and al
though these southern islanders are in no
way connected with the Moors except in
religion. the Spaniards regarded them as
their natural foes. For three hundred years
Spain accordingly struggled fruitIessly to
conquer and convert these savage people
TO Christianity
This was an object lesson to the Ameri-
cans on e how not TO do it," General Bates
was given instructions. therefore, to con-
cude a treaty of friendship with the Moros,
and to him belongs the credit of having ar
ranged the terms upon which the Moros rec
ognize the sovereignty of the United States,
while retaining their own independent gov
eminent.
The Moro sultan is supreme over his own
people, and the Americans are represented
by a few scattered garrisonS, that attend
to their own business of mounting guard
and waiting for mail from home, leaving
their Moro ne!ghbors beyond the outposts
free to do as seemeth best in the sight OF
their datto chiefs.
Thus these Mohammedans continue in the
full enjoyment of their inalienable rights.
and the enjoyment of their peculiar lives.
liberties and pursuit of happiness. in which
pursuit they are greatly assisted by their
long, sharp knives.
on their fifty more habitable islands
they continue then, to worship in their own
Mohammedan way, TO bear the responsible
tiles OF as many wives and families as they
can afford, to keep many slaves they
can get. to chew betel-nut. and fight with
sharp knives. to dance and sing and be abb
soluteiy the most disreputable, picturesque.
dirty and interesting mortals who decorate
the earth today.
A keen-edged knife. heavy enough to
sever the head Of an enemy. is the one abb
solutely necessary possession Of a Moro.
Like the Texas mans revolver 1t may not
be needed often. but If 1t Will suddenly slash
an enemys right arm off Unexpectedly
from behind. our Moro feels that he has not
carried IL In vain.
OF such Is Moro valor.
Give him a gorgeous red. green and
oranSe-coiored SASH in which to hold his
trusty knife and box of betel-nut. and he
dispense with the remainder o. his
wardrobe. and frequently he does. Bu0take
away his knife Gf you dare) and he would
consider himself naked indeed. brilliant in
clothes in many colors though he might be.
These knives are of various shapes and
weight. usually long and heavy. The
barong, most commonly used is Ash
shaped blade. accurately balanced for cut
ting. So strong and heavy Is It that It
slashes through body and bone at a blow
For thrusting. the famous creepy looking
Malay creese ia used: these are either
straight or waved. snake-like two-edged
blades. For other uses are various fasci-
mating weapons. twO-handed swords be-
heading knives. spears and daggers For
defense. they have clumsy woodne shields
and coats-of-mail made of chain and carl
bao horn plates.
A freeborn Moro scorns work as some
thing far beneath his dignity. His slaves
and wives labor for him, while he stroIfs
about with other men Of leisure. or serves
In his datto's train Of follower