The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1904-08-13
SLAVERY AMONG MoRos.
Of Mild Sort and Said to Be Agsee-
able to Mans Held in
Bondags.

~
More slave traders have zen at work
again in this district, saTs the MIN
danao Herald, this time in the village
OF PIacan. a short distance south of
Port Santa Maria. Three Moros ar
rived at the village IN q ylnta one
|. morning and inquired Of man named
Butus, who, with his two small chill
dren, vas standing near the shore, il
they could buy some buyo lbetelnut)
in tne village, and, receiving an affirm
ative reply, brought their vInta up on
the beach end came ashore. As soon
as they Ian ed, two rushed upon Butus
and held him, while the third member
Of the party seized the children and
forced them to get into the vinta.
Butus struggled with his eaptors and
tried to draw his bolo, but the Moros
held him tight and threatened TO kill
him if he did not drop his weapon. which
lie finally did. The two Moros then re-
leased him, and, running down to the
water, jumped into the vfnta, which
had been made ready by the third Moro,
and pushed off. Butus ran into the
house and obtained spear and then ran
after the Moros, but they were then too
far away for him to reach them. L
His arrival had the effect of divertiEg
their attention from their two captiyes.
and the little boy taking advantage of
his opportunity, Jumped overheard and
swan ashore. The little gigl, being too
young to help herself n this matter,
was orced 10 remain in the yinta, which
proceeded in the direction of Jolo, from
from which place it is supposed these
Moros came.
Placan and other places along the coast
OF namboanga, the perpetrators in every
case being Joloanos, who make. a reg
u1.r business of stealing children and
selling them into slavery.
Rajah Muda Mandi, to whom the case
was reported by the father, Immediate
ly Informed Gov Finley of the facts.
The Rajah Muda was highly indignant
about The matter. AS is well known,
this highly civilized Moro has prohib-
tied slavery throughout his dominions,
and the fact that the Joloanos had in
Vaded Eis territory added fuel to his
anger. By direction of Gov Finley he
and the authorities have been directed
to lend every assistance in their power.
Sandican, a Sauna Lutangan Moro 1iv-
ing at Masingluc, came into town and
complained to Gov. Finley that he had
gone to the village of Labuansulu one
night, for the purpose of bringing his
sister, Adjilia, and her husband, Sadian.
q Kalibugan, with him to Masingluc,
and that salip Abdu1lah, the head man
of that place, refused to allow them to
leave, giving as reason that the wealth
er was not favorable for a trip of that
kind. The real cause of his refusal was
that Abdullah claims Sadian as his slave,
having paid so pesos for him about five
years ago to Orang Caya Urang, who re-
sides at Cubuan
Sandiean managed to smuggIe his sis
ter away with him, but could not get
Sadian, who however, managed to make
his escape later and came to Masingluc.
Gov. Finley has sent messengers to
Salip Abdullah and Orang Caya Urang
demanding their presence at hissotf1ee,
and the matter will probably be adjusted
On the whole, slavery in this region.
il it be compared with the system in
other countries, will appear exceedingly
mild. Master and slave usually live In
the same house, eat the same food, ami
exist on the same plane. Undoubtedly
many of the born servants in this region
prefer the easy life they lead in the
house of a strong master, who always
has enough rice and fish for them. to
the struggle for existence that would fol-
low their liberation.
Slavery is not merely an institution:
It is also stage of evolution, and many
of the slaves of this region are yet at
the low stage Of development at which
the mild slavery In which they live suits
them better than freedom.
Polygamy, however, presents a more
difficult problem, being a religious in
stitution Speaking on this subject, one
of the most intelligent dattos said:
Your government can take away our
slaves; our own religion teaches that it
is wrong to enslave Mohammedans; but
poIygamy on the contrary, is a part of
our religion. and the government ought
to leave it alone"
Laws passed with the intent Of abol-
ishing it would only make matters
worse. II anything could preeipftate
fight between these tribes and the
such laws would do so, and
after the tumu1t was over the institu-
ton would survive, active though in
hiding. After all the Overwhelming
of these people are monogram
Gus already. The number of men sup
porting more than one wife, In all this
district, is only about 40or45.
Patchouli Plant.
Taatchouli, known for its penetrating