Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-10
WASHINGTON YOUNG MAN
DESCRIBES VISIT TO THE MOROS

Indeed, in small way, he is of no little
Importance.
we made a short stop at this house.
where the men and women gathered round
III curiosity gazing at me stolidlv and
steadily. After a short rest we went on
over fiat well beaten paths to the Gotta. |
was surprised at the strength of its de-
tense When We got inside Bayabao
showed me my lodging place which was
beside his chief bed and reception couch.
IT was in this place that l slept and held
iohg receptions for six days. These recep-
IONS occupied six hours every day l was
there
The Moros would come in, silent and
naughty, yet inquisitive. sit down and look
at me and say nothing? But I found if l
smiled and spoke they would do the same
and become friendly and interested. They
would ask questions about America, about
the names of fruits and parts Of the body
and things about the room. They were
greatly pleased that was trying to learn
their language, and, although stolid and
suspicious and taciturn at first. it seemed
to me they became rather sociabe and ami
able when they saw | was friendly.
During the conferences at these recep-
items / could see that they were discussing
me. They asked what l ate. as if l was
some strange animal, and seemed surprised
when they learned that l lived on rice,
chicken. fish. some kinds of clear soups
and fruits, bananas, cocoanuts and sugar
cane. The other part of the conferences
was spent in discussing tribal affairs. Sui
tan Bayabao led the discussion and swayed
and Influenced opinions to surprising ex-
tent. Altogether l thought he was pretty
good headman.
II don't know how 1t started-lkely they
heard humming some of their chants,
but during my entire stay at every gath
ering Bayabao would say Mohammedan
f,,tp ,N1,r aSrf-
nected with Islam and get me to follow
him. Some of these l hapf ened to catch
and drone out fairly we'll This met with
joyful approval One night a pandita put
me through long course of chants, maybe
a complete confession of the Moslem faith
and reputation of all other beliefs. How
ever, l was in blissful ignorance of any
thing that / altering a religious
chant. Similar performances occurred at
all meetings at all the cottas l visited.
The table was better than the sleeping
accommodations, for the former, although
frugal was palatable, while the latter was
not free from fieas or some other persona
non grata The food was placed
brass stand foot high and with top
foot and half in diameter. The first night
Bayabao ate with me; he first said some
sort of prayer and poured water over hts
hands. l did the latter myself all the time
I ate there. After this first time. except
once or twice, 1 ate alone. The other Man,
bers of the household, Bayabao, four of his
wives one mother-in-law, servants, etc,
ate at the same kind of stands. On my
next visit I shall probably Introduce the
spoon and the fork I saw little need OF
the knife for the kind of food they gave
me. This time l ate like the Moros with
slight embarrassment but no serious acct
dents. I did this partly from policy. but
more largely for the fun Of being one of
them for short time. The food was well
cooked The entire absence of grease was
commendable thing which 1 noticed
about their cooking.
1.-THE Moro's day began by their rolling UP
their mosquito netting ct half past or
O. clock and Immediately commencing to
chew betel-nut, sitting on mat with their
heads close to their knees. They kept this