River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1903-10-15

not interfere with the religion and GUS
toms of the Moros; but even ii that prom
Use had not been made, it certainly would
have been no easy matter for us to abol-
ish the Moro institutions of polygamy
and slavery.
AS to slavery in Sulu, we are repeatedly
old that it is very different from that
once in practice in this country. There
is not the same social degradation, the
relation does not place gulf between
master and man. Both wear the same
sort of clothes, eat at the same table, and
live in the same house. Often slave is
given an opportunity to purchase his
freedom, but makes no use whatever OF
the opportunity, is Indifferent to liberty
The land of Sulu is beautiful with the
luxuriance of tropical foliage and bloom,
and it is one of the most healthtul re-
gions in all the Philippines. Life there
is not very strenuous, not even the slaves
having to make much struggle Tor ex-
istence. The surrounding waters supply
fish in abundance, the land gives plentl-
FIJI easily gathered harvests of cocoanuts,
manages. bananas and numberless other
fruits. 1t is said very little manual WORK
is done by anyone, even the slaves work
ing only when they feel like it. But this
sounds to us of the work-a-day world
something like fairy tale.
The Suluans show very little OF Span
ish influence, they having never been
really dominated by Spain. The average
Filipino has aped Spanish manners for
a couple of centuries past, but IN Suiu
one finds a crude, barbaric, most pic
turesuue native, little affected by the
white mans civilization. He resembles
the Apache Indian in physique, but does
not wear his hair long; he is counted
fearless as the typical Indian OF olden
days and shows his courage both on land
and sea. as much at home in the water as
anv islander of them ALL Lieut. Col.
Owen ]. SWEET, military governor OF the
Sulu archipelago, reports there is no rec
ord of a Moro drowning. When engaged
IN the pearl fishing, an important in
dustry of Sulu, the Moro dives to the bot
tom of the sea at depths Of from Is to
100 feet.
The costume affected by the Sulu male
reminds one of comic opera makeup;
trousers similar to clowns tights,
loose upper garment, and funnel
shaned affair for head covering. The
dress of the Sulu woman is very similar
RI that of her brother, only her lower
garments are of more generous cut. Mr..
Whitmarsh, an appreciative traveller,
tbus describes Sulu dude: zone fellow
saw was decked out in pair of skin
tight trousers embroidered with silk III
stripes of orange, red and green, and but
toned from ankle to calf with small pearl
discs. His waist was encircled many
times by a fiaring sash, also of many col
ors which held in position, ready for in
slant use, small kris dagger and
splendid wavy handled barong. A tight
Elton Jacket of apple green, with sleeves
reaching to the knuckles, partially cover
ed his upper half; and bowling red and
yellow turban crowned the costume"
A SULTAN while yet mere lad begins
to wear display of weapons, and the
weapons worn in Sululand are dreadful
things. though splendid as to mounting
and always keen and bright The IA
orite is a double-edge sword, the kris,