Evening star., 1901-12-21
lNTEResTINGr COLLECTION
RARE AND CURIOUS DOCUMENTS IN
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS-.
Relate to Philippine Islands and In
and suitfn OF Jolo.

The Library of Congress quite recently
received from the War Department a num-
Der of exceedingly rare, curious and interest
ing documents bearing upon the Spanish
American war and the Philippine Islands.
They have been placed III a conspicuous
position in a case in the hall which contains
the documents archives, treaties. etc, of
the revolutionary war, war of 1872, Tripoii-
tan war, Mexican war and civil war.
Since they were placed on exhibition, sew
eral days ago, these interesting relics OF
the war with Spain and the Philippines
have attracted vast deal OF attention from
visitors. What is perhaps the strangest
and most curious state. document known in
the history of this country is included in
the collection. 1t is the treaty of agree
ment entered into between the United
States, represented by Brig. Gen. John c.
Bates, ana the Sultan of Jolo on the Island
OF Mindanao, and his datos and other high
functionaries. Before this treaty can be
described word is necessary as to the
Moros, the sultan's subjects. In one sense
the term Moro is a misnomer. The Moros
are a tribe of mixed Malagan and Indo-
nesian stock. Centuries ago they were
converted by Arab missionaries to the MO-
hammedan religion. and when the Span
iardS reached the Philippines, in the SIX
teenth century, and found these Minda-
naoese followers of the Meccan prophet the
invaders concluded that they must be
Moors (Moros), their neighbors on the other
size of the Straits of Gibraltar, who were
also Mohammedans, and with whom they
had long been at war. This is how the
MindanaoeSe came to be called Moros. In
becoming Mohammedans the Moros also
adopted the Arabic alphabet of characters,
just as the English in becoming Christians
the treaty drawn UP between the United
States and the Sultan of Jolo is, therefore,
in both the English and the Moro languages.
the latter being written in Arabic chara c.
Altogether curious 0Ocn-
ment.
Those who are advocates of anti-polyg-
amy and anti-slavery will learn by read
ing between the lines of this treaty that
the United States recognizes the two evils
that are not tolerated at home. Article 8
respects all religions and religious customs
of the Moros while article 10 states that
ANY slave in the archipelago of Jolo shall
have the right to purchase freedom by pay
ing to the master the usual market value" ="
The last article 05) sets FORTH that the
sultan shall govern Jole-or Sulu, as it is
sometimes calIed-for the United States, and
that he and his retinue shall receive annual
salaries from Uncle Sans treasury, as fol-
lows:
sultan of Jolo, s., 600; Dato Rajah Muda,
$500; Dato Attik, $3.50; Dato Calki, $500;
Dato Joakanain, $500: Dato Puyo, $3.50;
Dato Amir Hussin, $3.50; Hadji Butu, 5000;
Hsbib Mura, $3.50, and Serif Sagun, $50.
The next object of interest in this collec-
ton Is an album with the autographs, or
signatures, of all the Spanish governors OF
Porto Rico from 1883 to 1896. and which
are as follows in the order of their sue
cession: Jose Dufresne, Juan Daban, Miguel
Antonio Uztariz, Francisco Tarralba, Tor
ivio de Monies, Salvador Melendez, Juan
Vasco Pascual, Gonzales jArostequi, Jose
Navarro, Miguel de la tTorre, Francisco
Moreda, Santiago Mendez Vigo, Conde de
Merosol, Miguel Lopes Banos, Conde de
Reus, Juan de la Peknela. Marques de Es-
pana, Fernando deli Nofeagaray, Andres
Garcia Gambia, Ferlia pdol Cotoner, Rafael
Echague, Rafael Izguerdo, Felix Maria
Messina, Julian Pavia, Jose Loreano Saur,
Gabriel Baldrich, Segundo de la Portilla,
Eulogio Despujols, Jose Lasso, Manuel de
Serna and Jose Gamir.
Following this Is tracing, presented to
the government by Salvador Brau a citi-
zen Of Porto Rico, of the old original plan
drawn up in August, 1891, for the con-
Struction of Morro Castle, at the entrance
to the harbor of San Juan, Porto Rico.
After this comes several Porto Rican lot
terry tickets and bank notes of the years
1900, 1872. 1880 and 1872, Then follows a
letter written by Porto RicaTl, on official
stamped paper, addressed to General Rom
naldo Palacio, governor of the Island, 1887
and 1888. .-.--- 80. 20 E
Spanish minister for the colonies, by Gem
eral Martin Macias. the last Spanish gov
ernOr of Porto Rico (who surrendered the
island to General Brookey, which is dated
July /, 1898, details the condition of the
country" Il, -..:.. -rs .s-,r,
and bulky, ye1lum-bound book containing
the official records, written in ink of the
ayuntamiento, or city council of Manila
from the year 100 to 1T62. inclusive. Those
able to read Spanish will find many curious
ana interesting things in this book.
The last object in the interesting eollec-
ton Is note book carried by a Spanish
soldier in Porto Rico.