The National tribune., 1902-05-15

| he coveted for his harem. He was killed
with a club while asleep in his boat. His
son, Tangung, then IS years old, declared
war against Bilimbing. After waiting five
years without any fighting, ne proceeded
there with 80 boats containing 400 men
armed with rifles, spears and knives. His
foes ran to the woods, and they fought
| for five days and FIVE nights. The war
then ended with one man killed and two
| wounded. .."
! The Moros love to talk about fighting,
and marvel at the power and skill of the
Americans when told of the naval vic
tories of Manila and Santiago. The 4th
of July, 1900 was celebrated at Bongao
! with sports and games. and all the MOrOs
were invited to come in and witnesssthem.
Datto Tantung asked what it was all
about and what the 4th of July meant.
| Knowing the idea of the Declaration OF
Independence would not appeal TO his saw
age instincts, Capt. Cloman jokingly told
| him that many years ago the Americans
| had war with another country. and that
on the 4th of July the Americans killed
al! the men, women and children in that
country Tantung was almost wild with
delight
Moro religion. or custom. permits lying
if not caught. and sometimes two sides in
Il case will advance statements 50 absO-
lutely contradictory of each other that it
seems impossible to arrive at the truth.
In such cases Moro justice is very effec-
tive. Datto Tantung was once called upon
to settle such n case. The men had reach
ed point where they were saying, Cut
off my head If / am not speaking the
truth" That means II am telling n col
ossal lie. but you don't know it." At this
point Tantung was called upon as follows:
Here datto. you take these people, find
out the facts and settle the case" Tan
tung looked them over n moment and said,
well, you are all guilty Of something; 90
and get SIS apiece and hurry back" In
10 minutes they had brought their fines
and all appeared radiantly happy. Then
he said, That's ali, unless the Captain
wants YOU Cloman said, NO, let them
20" As soon as they were ont of hear
ing the datto said, "There's the money.
Captain: do you want il all or can have
part?" He was ordered to take it all
away Just as soon as possible, and give ii
to such poor people as were most deserving
on his island Tantung almost tainted,
because he suddenly seemed to realize that
there was an honest man in the world.
MAN WHO WENT TO sIBUTU.
The Moros follow the teachings of Ma
homet in the matter of treachey and
loot" A man went from Seminal to 81
butu and became involved in Il woman
scrare. He was fined $500 (Mcxican).
which was paid by his father. After Sc.
curing the money they killed the man and
tried to kill his brother. In .JOlo one OF
DattO kalbi's men stole $1,000 from the
Sultan; the man was located, and the Sui
tan demanded the money and the man
Kalbi is n bitter enemy OF the Sultan. He
tried the case himself and found the man
guilty. but charged him $4,000 court
fees which sum was paid out of the Sui
tan's money. and the Sultan only got back
$1,000. That fact and other things led to
Il war which was waged with yigor during
Nay, June and July. 1900, and it is rrl,
mored that Mt least 30 men were killed
and wounded during that time: yet no OIL
Ger in the 23d seems willing to admit that
he believes that even half that number
were hurt.
NO EPICURES AT BoNGAO.
Fish and rice constitute the Moro's diet
and he can live for weeks without one il
he has the other. Several forms of cakes
are made Of rice and sugar-cane and cook
ed in cOcoanut oil, but it requires intense
curiosity to make u white man want tC
taste them.
Most of the Moro houses are built oyel
the water near the shore. When built Oh
land they are erected on poles, with the
: floor five or six feet above the ground
In any case there are no steps, but simply
ladder or big pole
On land chickens are kept under the
house; in villages built over the water they
do not raise chickens. But, whether or
land or water, every Moro has fighting
cocks and keeps them in the house. II
his house is boat the rule applies just
the same. Datto Tantung is a great fan
cier of chickens, and comes to market reg
ularly every Sunday and arranges a fight
or two. To beat a Chinaman in a cocl
fight seems to be the most acute form OF
JOY that Moro is capable of experience
ing, and Tantung generally arranges his
matches with the Chinese merchant. The
latter is the only man who seems wealthy
enough to make big bets. He beat the
datto in four successive fights with So