Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1904-09-22
THE BLooDTHIRSTY MoROS
Philippine Savages, Now Under Sub
lection, Have Some Singular
Beliefs and Customs.

From all accounts the Moros are nat
ural born fighters. From the age of 16
their arms never leave their belts except
to draw blood, and, being Mohammedans,
imbued with the idea that the slaughter
of Christians insures admission to Heav-
en-, they have gone about using them
freely upon those who might by any
chance be considered Christians. The
greater the number slain the higher,
they believe, would be the slayers seat
upon the steps Of the heavenly throne,
says writer in the New York Tribune.
They are not savsges, however, in the
sense that some people imagine them TO
be. Uncle Sam has among his varied
assortment OF peOp,cs in the Philippines
some who wear little more than breech
clout, but the sultan OF the MOros aces
not dispense hiSh-haEded judgments
seated on the s2nU under fantastic I'M
brella, with boiling pot for minced
missionaries near at hand. AS matter
of fact, it is generally understood that
the real ruler Of tAe Moros is not the
young, poe. msrAeG, heavy and charac-
tepless featured sultan, who has name
consisting of eight or ten words, but his
mother, the sultana 0Owager. The
Moros, indeed, are supposed to be sup
planters of earlier tribes of the Malayan
race, and to be Of Arabian antecedents.
They have many characteristics tending
to support this belief. Intermarriage
with the savage peoples OF the surround
ing islands has migrated many pagan
superstitions in their religion.
The Spaniards, when they discovered
the Philippines, 400 years ago, found
them on the Sulu archipelago, and occu-
plying a part of the large island of Min
danao, as well as the northern part of
Borneo They still occupy this territory,
the sultanate comprising between 14O.
and $50 islands and islets, Of which 80
are inhabited. The Spaniards called
them Moros, or Moors, because of their
dark skin and their religion. While
claiming sovereignty over them, the
Spaniards were unable to control them.
except while Gen. Arolas, a Spaniard
of republican tendencies, was governor.
The Moros found him a Tartar, and
learned that it was wise to obey his man
dates
The Moros are born to warfare. Until
the SOS, when a fleet of steam gunboats
put an end to it, they practiced piracy
on the high seas. Although restrained
from this occupation, the habit OF train
ing the boys to become warriors has not
lads practice with the shield, the cam
pilan," a kind of short, two-handled
sword, wide at the tip, narrowing down
to the hilt; the ''barong," which is used
for close conflict; the straight kris"
for thrusting and cutting, and the waved,
serpentlike kris" for thrusting only.
The Moro becomes so dexterous in the
use of the ''barong" that he can decapi-
tate a man at single stroke. At sea
they use a sort of assegai, called bag
sacay," or 'simbilin," which is about
half an inch in diameter, with sharp
point. Some can throw as many as four
of these at time, making them spread
in their flight. These were used in the
days of piracy for boarding vessels.
They are very skillful in the manufac-
ture of these weapons, the blades of their
knives being as finely tempered and
sharp as a. Damascus blade. Their
homes are veritable armories. Of re-
cent years some of them have learned
the use of firearms and have come into
possession of supplies of them.
The Moro loathes any kind Of work
other than that connected with his pro-
fession as warrior. He expects that all
of his physical wants will be supplied
by his wives and slaves. His valuable
time is devoted to affairs of state and
the care Of his arms. In battle he is
fearless, for his religion teaches him
that death in warfare carries with it the
honor Of life hereafter in the Moham-
medan heaven. When engaged in fight
he makes hideous grimaces to brighten
his opponent, and prances and leaps to
COuluoO Jnc dlLU VI Alo duFOAooi anu W
protect himself from blow behind or
below his shield.
These Moros are described as robust,
Of medium height, often Of superb phys
ical development, dusky bronze in col
or, the possessors of piercing eyes, low
foreheads and lank hair which is dressed
in a sort of chignon and hangs down the
neck. They are agile, and have won
derful capacity for holding their breath
under water. They are Of quick percep-
ton, audacious, extremely sober, rarely
using intoxicating drinks; ready to
promise anything and do nothing, vim
dictive, highly suspicious of strangers,
long suffering in adversely, hesitating
In attack, and the bravest of the brave
in defense Large numbers Of them
chew the betel nut.
Naoeyffo Woor,0na