The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-15
MIR. Bryan Visits the Moros
The Country Of the Mohammedan FiEpinos-CaIs on
the Datto Piang and the Sultan Of Suu
BY WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN
Copvrf0hb 1909, bv Joseph B. BorlsS.

used to describe the M~onammooan culplno
and includes a number Of tribes OCCUPY
Ing the large island Of Mindanao and the
smaller islands adjacent to 1t and those
Of the Sulu archipelago.
~ The northeast corner OF Mindanao 10
! separated from the island OF Leyte by the
6urigao Strait, and that part Of Mindanao
has a considerable sprinkllng OF Christian
Filipinos, but both that island and the
Gulus can be considered Moro country.
The Americans recognize the difference
between the two groups OF Islands
administer government according to diff
ferent plans,
Civil government has been established
"a the northern islands, and except where
ladroniam prevails law and order reign'
There are In some places, as in northern
Luzon, wild tribes in the mountains, but
these are 60 few in number and so different
from the Civilized Filipinos that they do
MOI enter into the solution OF the Phlnp-
Pine problem.
In Mindanao, however, and the other
Moro provinces warlike tribes have been
IA control. They have furnished a large
number Of pirates and have frequently
invaded the northern island, carrying
hack Filipino slaves.
They never acknowledged the authority
IL Spain and succeeded In keeping most
Of the islands In the southern group free
from Spanish control Our country prob
ably exercises authority over moro Moro
territory than Spain ever did, and yet u
authority Is limited and we employ the
military form Of government rather nan
tho civil.
THE FAMOUS ARGUS RArh9.
m our tour Of the islands We crossed
Over the narrow part OF Mindanao, went
up the Cotabato Valley and called upon
the Sultan Of Sulu at his home near Nahum
on the island Of Sulu.
We landed at Camp Overton, a military
post ON nigan Bay. on the north coast OF
Mindanao, and Immediately began the
ascent to Camp Kiethley, eighteen miles
N the interior. A military road has been
constructed between these two camps,
following for the greater part OF the way
the Spanish trail.
Owing to the heavy rainfall and the
luxurant growth Of vegetation 1t is diff
cult to keep a road in repair, and not far
from the coast We passed a large number
of prisoners who were engaged in straight
sning and improving it.
About three miles from tbs coast we
made a short detour in order to see the
famous Argus falls; and they are well worth
seeing. The Argus River, which at this
point lie q large stream, falls 22o feet
rushes by a tortuous route through the mar
row walls Of q gorge. The falls are not only
picturesque, but they suggest the posi-
bility Of future Use.
It has been calculated that 100, 900 horse
power Is here going to waste which might
be put to use. The military authorities have
been trying to secure an appropriation for
an electric railroad from Camp Overton to
Camp Kiethley, with the intention Of OBJ
tanning power from the falls, but this ould
utilize only a small traction Of the energy
which the Argus possesses.
MORO FAMILY AT HOME.
Two miles further up the o we turned
aside to see the rapids Of the same river,
and here made our first acquaintance with
the Moros. We found a dozen Of them under
a rude shed of palm leaves preparing the
evening meal.
The most conspicuous dish, at least the
dian that attracted our attention, was a
skillet full of grlsshoppers being done to
a neat brown over o slow fire. While we
we're watching them two half baro children
returned from the chase with a large supply
Of fresh grasshoppers strung upon grass.
The Moros nave a most repulsive habit OF
dyeinR the teeth black, the enamel being
first scraped off. Add to this the red tings
left on the lips by the chewing Of the betel
nut, and the mouth is anything but
beautiful.
The clothing Of the Moro is scanty and
Of q cheap quality. The men when at work
often wear nothing but a breech cloth.
When dressed up they wear very tight
fitting trousers of gay color, a tight fitting
waist, and a turban completes their COM
pany dress.
A garment much worn by men and women
10 the sarong, which is a piece Of cloth sewed
together like a roller towel and folded about
: the body. The men, no matter what else
they wear or fail to wear, have a scarf wound
around the waist, in which they carry a
knife, of which there are several varieties
the bolo, the barong and the kris being the
most popular.
Tba Moros above mentioned consented to
having a snapshot taken, and their spokes-
man informed us in broken English that
he had visited the st. Louis exposition.
Cant. Mccoy, one of Gen. Woods staff,
who accompanied us as far as Zamboanga,
explained to us that a number Of Moros
were sent to st. Louis as an experiment,
and that they had returned very much
impressed by what they saw in the United
States.
A GLIMPSE OF AvAGE TACTICS.
A we proceeded on the road to Kiethley
we passed a spot where a sergeant was
cut TO pieces by the Moros three weeks
before. While all the Moros carry knives
and are expert in their use, they set a high
estimate upon a gun, and the hapless travel
Ter who carries one Of these envied weapons
IL apt to be waylaid, if alone, and lose his
life as q penalty for his rashness.
With this incident fresh in his memory,
Col. Steever of Camp Overton furnished us
with a mounted guard. During the first
part Of the ride we passed through a forest
In which there were many largo trees,
some OF them with fantastic trunks, others
festooned with vines and all surrounded
by a thick underground which furnishes
- -l-.-uL1a oo,,ar (Ar raNfi1as haogta nv