The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1906-08-17
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The United States is not without its
royal families, regardless of what pro-
hibitive measures congress and the
constitution have provided. The con-
quests of 1899 brought us not only
new deIninions to administer, but
among other things, full quota OF
royalty as well.
The Island of Mindanao, Americas
furthermost frontier, is ruled and gov
erned under the tutorship of American
officials by blue-blooded families boast
ing as old and spotless an ancestral
lineage as any dynasty in the far east.
These families are Mohammedan in
religion and decidedly oriental in GUS
tom, so much so that a comic opera
writer would be in clover of operate
material could one but live to study
the varied curiosities of the royalty of
Moroland.
A great celebration took place in
Mindanao recently. 1t was not when
Mrs. Longworth, nee Roosevelt, Wis
tied the country and, according to ru-
NOR, was offered an opportunity of
marriage into the royal household of
the Moros by an over-zealous prince
"a sort of charter membership as it
wcre-nor was it when the Hon. Will
liam Jennings Bryan visited the island
paradise and out of pure Moro hos
pitality and respect was made full
fledged Datto, a rank next below that
of prince.
Zambo, as the Americans say for
short, was in festal attire, mirth and
feasting for the popular Sultan of Ma
guindanao, the rular of Margosa Tu-
big, principality not unlike Timbuc-
too in great many respects, on the
occasion of his marriage to the
Princess of Cottobato. 1t was ma
tional affair in Margosa and the cere-
mony was consummated in full state
honors. Especial interest was dis
played by the people in this matri-
monial event owing to the great
wealth and rank of the princess who
comes from one of the foremost fam
lilies of the Sulu archipelago. The
princess is the widow of the late Dat
to Tito, who greatly harassed the
Spanish authorities in the old days of
strife and turmoil, and she was much
sought after by the leading Dattos
and Sultans Of the Moro provinces.
The wooing of the dashing Sultan of
Maguindanao was finally looked upon
with favor by the dusky princess and
the wedding was to have taken place
earlier in the year, but according to
their mythology the date set was un-
propitious, the fact having been made
known to the royal councillors by a
bird flying past the door of the sui.
tanate, and going in the wrong di-
rection. Mohammedans have their
full share of superstition and are al
ways prone to it's fanciful dictations.
Maj. Gen. Leonard Wood is the big
man in social functions that he is in
matters military, and in order that
the sultan, who, by the way has al
ways borne friendly air toward
Americans and American government
might attend his wedding in modern
state, the general gave instructions
that launch be placed at his dis
posal to transport the bridal party
from Cottobato to Zamboanga, the
ancient capital of Moroland. From
this it must be judged that the sui.
tans are minus their methods of water
transportation. They are the owners
of many large and beautifully deco.
rated canoes, carved from the most
precious woods in the east The ca.
noes are propelled by slaves, some
having as many as one hundred black,
sleek oarsmen on occasions of state.
But to be able to have steam vessel
of modern lines in attendance " q
wedding was thing not enjoyed at
every marriage and because of this
compliment alone the wedding will be
one long remembered among the peo-
pie. 1t was proud prince that
brought his bride aboard the footing,
flag bedecked government launch.
At the ceremony the bride and
groom appeared in full state robes and
jewels, some of the latter of which
would grace the parsonage of a more
powerful peer. A wedding ceremony
as performed by Moros takes place
in large embroidered marque of rich
and costly design, and is an affair
which usually outshines marital cele-
brations in more advanced countries.
On one side of the ponderous, silk
en- tent sits the bride esconsed on a
cushion laden throne and with a
cushion in fr,,nt of her on which rests
her hands. The finger nails are pro-
tected with long silver ferrules that
at once suggest the garb of the wild
tribes of South Africa, but Moro roy
atty, on the contrary, is far from be-
ing wild. It is rather enlightened IN
great many ways and the pomp and
taste with which they sometimes carry
nut their ceremonies is most attrac-