The daily morning journal and courier., 1903-04-25
RUNNING AMOK.
One of the Unpleasant Little Ways of
 the Moro.

One of the Unpleasant Little Ways of
 the Moro.
 In Sulu and in Mindanao amoks by Mahometan fanatics among Moro tribesmen are common. These fellows gave the Spaniards formerly good deal of trouble. They are now giving the American successors of the Span iards an idea of what amok running means. The Manila Times thus ham, dies some recent fanatical outbursts of this kind in that quarter: From time to time reports have come in from the southern possessions stating that some Moros have run amok." While many people will recognize the expression, there are few who know its real signi- ficance as pertaining to the Mores. In 1900 reports frequently came from the Twenty third infantry, the Twenty eighth and Fortieth Volunteer regi- ments of Moros running amok. Since the departure of these regiments for the states reports from their sue cessqrs the Seventeenth infantry and Fifteenth cavalry, have frequently re- ferred to the same class of Moros.
 An army officer, recently from the Sulu archipelago, gives the following significance to the expression: Ac- cording to the Mahometau religion, subject, no matter how tired he may be of life, cannot reach his happy hunt ing ground should he commit suicide. These fanatics have more graceful manner of forcing death upon them selves than most civilized people. For example: A Sulu Moro, through fall- ing hopelessly in debt being taken into slavery, after time sometimes be- comes Respondent and decides to snuff fle off the mortal twist. Having reached this frame of mind, he tells his troubles to the priest of his datto or chieftain, who, if he believes the sub ject is in earnest, refers the case to the next highest authority with his approval. Thus the case goes on through official channels" until it reaches the member of the court of the sultan who decides such matters. Shtould this dignity approve of the supplication, the subject is given re- ligious ceremony and swears to ''die fighting" His eyebrows and parts of his head are then shaved clean, and un- der certain conditions he is given white turban. His sword or other weapon, which must have the keen edge os a razor. is then examined, and if found satisfactory he starts out on the prescribed mission of blood letting.
 A great factor in. the happiness in the future world is his horse that he will receive after death. Its size will be large or small, according to whether he stays many or few. and it's color light or dark, dependent upon the color of his victims. He, Of course, desires a large white horse. Thus it may be seen that he is a dangerous character, particularly to Americans and Euro peans, though Chinese, being of lighter skin than himself. often becomes his victims. He prefers the lighter blood, but does not hesitate to deal the death blow to other human beings, even to his fellow tribesmen, if this coveted blood is not to be had, figuring, no doubt, that in the world to come he will be better off with a small dark horse than with no steed at all Dur ing the last year five Moros have run amok in Jolo, the chief town of Sulu. Thanks to the alertness of the Ameri- can soldiers, but one person has been injured by these fiends, and his recov- cry is assured.-New York Tribune.