Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-11-14
MlNOANAO SLAVERY.
Revival Of Activity of Slave Traders
on the Island.

Revival of Activity of Slave Traders
on the Island.
More slave traders have been at
work again in this district, this time
in the village of Piacan, a short dis
lance south of Port Santa Maria. Three
Moros arrived at the village in a vinta
one morning. and inquired of a man
named Butus, who, with his two small
children. were standing near the shore
II they could buy some buyo (betel nut
IN the village, and, receiving an affirm
atlVe reply, brought their vnta up or
the beach and came ashore AS soon
as they landed, 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.
Putus struggled with his captors 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 he finally did. The two Moros
| then released him, and, running down
to the water, jurnped into the vinta
| which had been made ready by the
third Moro, and pushed off. Butus ran
into the house and obtained IL speil
and then ran aftt = the MOros, but they
were then too far away for him tC
| reach them.
His arrival had the effect of divertins
their attention from their two captives
and the little boy, taking advantage OF
his opportunity. jumped overheard
swan ashore. The little girl, being too
young to help herself in this matter
was forced to remain i'm the Vinta
which proceeded in the direction o
Jolo from which place it is supposed
| these Moros came.
| Similar cases have occurred before al
Piacan and other places along the
coast of Zamboanga, the perpetrator.
in every case being Joloanos, VII,
make regular business of stealing
children and selling them into slavery
Rajah Muda Mandi, to whom thu
case was reported by the father. imme
diately informed Governor Finley Of
the facts. The Rajah Muda was high
ly indignant about the matter. AS i:
well known. this highly civilized Moro
has prohibited slavery throughout hi:
dominons and the fact that the JolO
amos had invaded his territory added
fuel To his anger. BY direction of Gov
ernor Finley he instituted a search fol
the missing child and the authorize!
have been directed to lend every assist
ance in their power.
Sandlcan. a Sama Lutangan Moro
living at Masingluc, came into toWI
and complained to Governor Finley
that he had gone ito the village OF
L.abuansulu on "Wednesday night, fol
the purpose of bringing his sister, AID.
fila. and her husband. Sadian. a Kali
bugan, with him to Masingluc. ana
Salip AbduIlah the head man of thai
place. refused to allow them to leave
giving as a reason that the weather
| was not favorable for a trip of thai
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 resides at Cubuan.
Sandican managed to smuggle his
sister away with him. but could not
get Sadian, who, however. managed tC
make his escape later and came tC
Masingluc.
Governor Finley has sent messen.
gers to Salip Abdullah and Orang Caya
Crang demanding their presence at his
office and tine matter will probably be
adjusted.
On the whole slavery in this region
other countries, will appear exceeding
ly mild. Master and slave usually live
in the same house, eat the same food
and exist OH the same plane. UndOubt-
eddy many of the born servants in this
region prefer the easy life they lead in
the house of a strong master, who al
ways has enough rice and fish for
them, To the struggle for existence tina;
would follow their liberation.
Slavery is not merely an institution;
it is also stage of evolution, and
many o: the slaves Of this region are
yet at the low stage Of development
1t which the mild slavery in which
they live suits them better than free
dom.
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 Mohamme-
dams; but polygamy. on the contrary,
is a part of our religion and the gov
eminent ought to leave it alone"
Laws passed with the intent of abol.
ishing it would only make matters
worse. If anything could precipitate a
fight between these tribes and the
Americans, such laws would do so. and
after the tumult was over the institu-
ton would survive, active though in
hiding. After all, the overwhelming
majority Of these people are monoga-
nous already. The number of men sun
PORTING more than one wife, in all this
oistr'ct. Is only about forty or forty
| hEe-Mindanao Herald.