Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1903-10-15
The MOR0S
Continued From Page one1

her II she wore the ring, that II would
render her fever-proof, bulletsproof
and c~ris-proof. He explained In an
awe-inspiring voice that a juramen
tado could strike at her with Bis ter
rible weapon, but il she had on the
wonderful ring the point Of the Girls
would break OF and the blade crumblo
away rather than enter her sacred
body-sacred, or course. only while
wearing tho ring. Upon being asked
II the wearer could NOT absorb enough
charm while wearing the ring 10 be
able to go without 1t sometimes and
still be protected by its subtle iniiu.
cnce. he hesitated, paced the floor in
deep thought, and finally stated that
he did not think Il would DO q wise
thing TO DO.
All interiors arc objects Of the
most sublime contempt 10 the Moro
Of quality and he cnmpels his slaves.
both men and women, to crawl before
him on their hands and knees. A
slave may not approach his master
standing. but must fall upon a~Il-fours
when within a prescribed distance,
usually ten Or fifteen feet. What the
Moro considers dignity consists In Ill
ways being attended By his follow.
ers and slaves; and there III scarcely
q Moro. of whatever station or rank,
who has not some one 10 serve him;
even the slaves have slaves. A Datu,
or Moro chief. VIII never be seen
alone; when he visits a town he
brings his fayorite warriors aud al
tsndants with him. each armed with q
Girls OF curious oesign. a slave loi
lows. bearing a massive wrought sill
yer or brass huyo-box, which contains
the ~buyo-nuts, lime. and fresh green
leaves, a mixture Of which Is chewed
as a great delicacy; IL also contains
what silver money the Datu may need
for immediate use.
Personal adornment Is almost a
passion with the Moros. and the more
vivid the colors Of their sorongs ttu.
nics) and turbans. the more attract.
I've they are To them. They wear a
t~ight'htting cotton or silk jacket or
namcnted with small brass buttons.
a wide tunlc, gaudy with bright or
ange. majenta and green plaids or
stripes, u u turban In which the
more coiors are combined. the better.
They adorn their brown fingers. wrists
and ankles with heyay rings. many OF
which arc anting.antings. TO n
unfamiliar wit hthe Moros II 10 difii
cult 10 distinguish the men from the
women. ais their dress Is SO similar.
except that the women do not YEA
turbans.
All eyes Of late have been focused
upon the Ma-Ranaos, or Lake Lanao
Moros. MS they arc more popularity
called. II might perhaps be appro
pos to tell the real cause OF the pres
ent trouble with these people since
the truth Is known TO 80 few. prob
ably TO none outside Of Minianao.
Upon evacuation by the spaniards.
rs there had been no open hostility
shown By the Moros Of the interior
against the Americans, and as our
troops were needed IN Luzon and 9th
or northern islands. military posts
were not established In either The
Lake Lanao or Rio Grande valley dis
tricts. There was a garrison ii Fam
boanga, and rs trouble with the Mo
ros was not anticipated, that was
deemed sufficient until further dcyel
opments. But while The Moros did
not show open hostility towards us.
there Is the bitierest enInity existing
among themselves. Usually The
strongest in numbers Is The tribe most
favored. as might Is generally con
ceded TO be right, In Moro land,
though that Is not always SO, as there
Is much preference shown for the
chiefs most nearly related TO the
r~clgning family Of Suiu,
When the spanlards left Mindanao.
the Lake Lanao Moros remained In
the interior. engaging in their sim
pie industries when necessarya and
seemingly content among themselves
60 long as they yer not molesiel
But the Maguihdanaos tor upflycr
Moros) descended upon the vail
Mcros IL the vicinity Of cottabsto,