Omaha daily bee., 1902-04-27

Then said he, Il will raise a black flag
above it, just like that used by the pirate.
This means, we will fight to the death
and give no quarter"
The pirate vessels of the Moros have raw
aged the southern coasts of our possessions
for more than 200 years. In times past
they attacked all the towns near the shore
and enslaved many people. Old Datto Utto,
who lives near Cottabato, has been a ia
nous pirate in his day, and Datto Piang
and others would now be running their pi-
rate junks II no restraint were put upon
their actions.
Crime Among the MOrOs.
In my travels among the Moros | founI
them a peaceable people. They have good
order, because every man carries a knife,
and an insult might cause one to lose his
head. They have little regard for life.
Death is one of their punishments for theft.
While General Bates was in Sulu one Of the
Moros stole a knife belonging to his party
and the datto who ruled there wondered
why our soldiers did not cut of the thief's
head.
Shortly after this the. transport Warren
called at Jolo with a party of Americans on
board. The sultan came deVn to visit them
and upon leaving found that his best cane
had mysteriously disappeared. The stick
was set with Jewels, and the sultan COM
planned. Had the thief been caught alone
in his territory he would probably have
been killed.
Last October eight men were cut to mincc
meat in the Sulus because they had stolen
10 cents worth OF Ash. The thieves were
Moros from a neighboring island, who had
robbed the fish traps. They were captured
and a trial was held. Before It was over
one OF the Sulu Moros accused one OF the
defendants of being a thief. The accused
at once drew his kris and started for his
accuser, upon which the friends OF the lat
ter rushed in and grabbed the eight
strangers. They tied their hands behind
them and chopped them in pieces. When
the American soldiers arrived the bodies
were still bleeding and there vas not a
spot as large as your hand on any of them
that had not been cut. While the soldiers
were looking on other Moros came up and
tested the edges of their knives by chop
ping into the human flesh.
l remember a presidente whom met at
Zamboanga. We rode about together look
ing over his town and | chatted with mir
about himself and his work. He made no
bones OF telling me how he had killed his
predecessor. He was in charge of the town
when our soldiers attacked 1t, and was sup
posed to be associated with a Filipino gem
eral in its defense. He called this general
to him, pretending he wanted a conference
and when he came gave a sign to his own
soldiers to shoot him. This they did. He
rather laughed as he showed me how he
had killed his associate, and was evidently
proud OF his action. The fact that he had
lied did not cause a blush, and this is so
with the majority of our little brown
cousins.
Filipino Liars.
The Filipino has received hts moral ideas
from the Spaniard, and neither thinks any
thing OF lying to gain his end. The most OF
them believe that It is only through fear
that people tell the truth. l remember a
story OF Captain Howland's describing his
experiences with the insurgents. At one
time he came upon a party OF Fflipinos
whom he supposed to be insurgents out for
supplies. He asked them II this was NOT
the case. They replied that they had been
insurrectos, but they were now tired OF
fighting and wanted to surrender. Captain
Rowland asked one OF the natives who he
knew was friendly 10 us whether he thougai
the men were telling the truth. The native
replied;
Al