The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-11-16
THE MOROS.
They Are Not Such Very Bad Sort,
After ALL

They Are Not Such Very Bad Sort
After ALL
There is a wide difference between the
Moros of the Jolo archipelago and those
of Mindanao, and this extends to their
language, The Moros in the archipel-
ago inhabit a number of small islands
where they can be controlled and OPP
pressed at will by their datos and
chiefs. That the sultan has been able
to retain much of his hereditary power
and authority is undoubtedly due to
reasons which are geographical; ana
this is the more evident In that his au-
thority is merely nominal outside OF
the largest and most important islands
of the group They speak a language
which the Moros of Mindanao do not
understand, and, without the freedom
and independence of the latter are dis
tinctly inferior to them in moral and
physical characteristics.
| The presence of an armed force alone
prevents frequent interisland wars; but
these are rather predatory expeditions
growing out of feuds which in their or
! igen and course do not differ mate
rally from those that are not uncom-
mon to-day among our civilized peo-
pies The Moros Of Mindanao are very
| like the best North American Indians,
the Nez Perces and North Cheyennes,
in features and manners, in their love
of independence and personal dignity
and pride. The individual Moro is apt
to be courteous, hospitable, light-heart-
ed and improvident. but he has strong
sense of humor, and is usually intelli-
gent They are very amiable to argu-
ment and reason and in the most sol
emn conference with them, IL the pro-
ceedngs are threatened with dead
lock, the situation may be instantly re-
leved by story or joke. Where they
have come in contact with the pagan
tribes they have intermarried to some
extent with these without essentially
altering the type, and this is especially
true in the case of the Subanos on the
western peninsula. 1t is believed that
homogeneous race may eventually result
throughout the Mindanao.
They are in no wise prejudiced
against the religions of others, but may
be converted into bitter enemies by the
slightest interference with their own.
Slavery as the term Is usually under
stood, does not exist among them They
undoubtedly hold what for want of a
better term may be slaves, but it is
difficult or impossible to distinguish
these from their dress, manner of liv-
ing Of association from other Moros.
This is less true of the Jolo archipe-
lago than Of Mindanao, but in both
places male slaves may be said to be
the retainers or followers of him who
claim to own them, who render him
service in war, and with this possible
exception, receive greater benefits from
him than he from them, The partial |
of intertribal and inter- |
island warfare appears to have already |
the tie which binds master |
and slave, and cases are not infrequent |
Of slaves changing their allegiance UNI |
hindered.
In a few cases slaves have sought the |
protection of cur troops, and have been |
claimed by their owners; but if the
slave preferred to remain he has al
WAYS been allowed to do SO. and in each
case the master appeared Indifferent to
The decision.
A radical distinction between slavery |
here and as it is generally understood
may be found in the fact that appar-
entity or really, social equality exists
between the slaves and the free retain
ers and often with the master himself.
The Moro is not bigoted on the subject
If slavery, and discusses with indiffer-
snce plans for altering or abolishing the
institution.
The most prominent characteristic of |
he Moro, especially of Mindanao, is |
personal pride, and dignity which re-
ents undue familiarity and is fiat
cred by consideration. To this quality
IRE undoubtedly due the excellent rela-