The Vinita weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1905, 1904-08-04
SLAVERY AMONG MoRos.
OF Mild Sort and Said to BE Agree
able to Many Held 81
Bondage.


More slave tradera have been at work
again In this district, says the Min
danao Herald. this time IN the village
OF placan, q short distance south OF
Port Santa Maria. Three Moros ar
rived at the village In O vinta one
morning and inquired of a man named
Butus. who, with his two small chill
dren. was standing near the shore. II
they could huy some buyo (betelnut)
10 the village. and, receiving an affirm
atiye reply, brought their vinta up On
the beach and came ashore AS soon
as they landed. two rushed upon nutus
and held him, while the third member
OF the party seized the children and
forced them to get into the Ylrta
Butus struggled with his captors and
tried TO draw his bolO. but the Moros
held him tight and threatened 10 kili
him II be did not drop bis weapon, which
he finally did The two Moros then re-
leased him and. running down to the
water jumped into the vinta. which
had been made ready b. the third Moro.
and pushed on Butus ran into the
house and obtained a spear and then ran
after the Moros but they were then too
far away for him TO reach them.
HIS arrival had the effect Of diyertirg
/ their attention from their two captives,
and the little boy. taking advantage Of
hts opportunity jumped overheard and
swan ashore The little girl being too
young TO help herself IN this matter.
was forced 10 remain In the vinta. which
proceeded in the direction Of Jolo. from
from which placg it is supposed these
Moros came.
Similar cases have occurred before az
Plaean and other places along the coast
of Zamboanga. the perpetrators IN every
case being Joloanos. who make a reg
ular business Of stealing children aud
selling them into slavery
Rajah Muda Mandi. to whom tho case
was reported by the father. Immediate
" informed Gov. Finley OF the facts.
The Raiah Muda was highly Indignant
about the matter As is Well known,
this highly civilized Moro has prohib-
tied slavery throughout his dominiona.
and the fact that the Joioanos had in-
vaded his territory added fuel 10 his
anger By direction Of Gov Finley he
instituted a search for the missing child.
and the authorities have been directed
to lend every assistance in their power
sandlcan a sama Lutanran Moro lEy-
ing a. Maslnglue came into own and
complained 70 Gov Finley that he had
gone 10 the village Of Labuansuiu one
night. for the purpose Of bringing his
sister. Adiilia. and her husband. sadian.
kaiibugan. with him 70 MasinEluc
and that salip Abdullah. the head man
Of that place. refused 10 allow them TO
leave giving as a reason that the wealth
er was not favorable for a trip Of that
line. The real cause Of his refusal was
that Abdullah claims Sadian az his slave
having paid 50 pesos for him about ave
years ago 70 orang Caya urang. Who Re
sides at CubHan.
Sandican managed 20 smuRgle bis sis
ter away With him. but could not get
sadisn. who. however. managed to make
his escape later and came TO Masiuelur
Gov. Finley has sent messengers 20
salip Abdullah and orang Caya uraEv
demanding their presence az his Office.
and the matter viii probably be adjusted
!, On the whole. slavery In this region.
II f be compared with the system in
other countries viii appear exceedingly
mild Master and slave usually live in
the same house. eat the same food. and
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 fsh for them. to
the struggle for existence that would fol-
iow their liberation.
Slavery Is not merely an institution:
II Il also = stage OF evolution. and many
OF the slaves OF this region are set al
, the low stage Of development At which
the mild slavery in which they live suits
them better than freedom.
J polygamy. however. presents a nofe
I dlfHeult problem. being q 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 Il
: Is wrong 10 enslave Mohammedans. bat
B. polygamy, on The contrary. Is e part Of
: our religion. and the government ouRht
b to leave L alone"
I Laws passed with the iutent of abol-
e ishlug Il would only make matters
q worse. II anything could preclpitAto a
9 ieht between these tribes and tho
: Americans. such laws would DO SC. ard
2 after the tumult was over the lnsiitu-
Q tlon would survive active though ia
q hiding After al the overwhelming
majority Of these people are monoeam-
o Gus already The number OF men sup
= porting more than one wife. in al thiu
J faletriei Il only about s0or45.