The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1906-04-17
Copyrighted. 1906, by Joseph f.
EoWles-Copyright in Great Brit
tain-All Rights ReSerVed.)

Singapore. January %. 190G.-The
term Moro is used to describe the Mo-
hammcdan Filipino and includes a
number of tribes occupying the larg"
island of Mindanao ana the smaller
islands adjacent to ii and those of the
Sulu archipelago.
The northeast corner of MindanaO
is separated from the island of Leyte
by the SURFACE strait, and that part of
MlndanaO has Il considerable Sprink-
ling of Christian F%ilipinos. but both
that island and the Sulus can be CON
S!dered Moro country. The Americans
recognize the difference between the
two groups of islands and administer
government according to different
plans. Civil government has been es-
taDllShed in the northern islands, and
except where ladrOnism prevails, law
n order reign. There are in some
places, as in northern LuZOn, wild
tribes in the mountains, but these are
80 few in number and so different from
the civilized Filipinos that they do not
enter into the solution of the Philip
pine problem.
In MindanaO, however. n the
other Moro provinces. Warlike tribes
have been in control. They have fur
niShed a large number of pirates and
have frequently invaded the northern
island. carrying back Filipino slaves.
They never acknowledged the author
ity of Spain and succeeded in keeping
most of the islands in the u
group free from Spanish control. Our
country probably exercises authority
over more Moro territory than Spain
ever did, and yet our authority is linn
lttd and We employ the military form
of government rather than the civil.
In u tour of the islands we
crossed over the narrow part of Min
Il ~ $780, 49,
and called upon the sultan Of SuIu at
his home. near NAHUM, on the island
of Sulu.
We landed at Camp OvertOn, a mill
taFy post on Ili@an bay, on the north
coast of M~indanaO, and Immediately
began the ascent to Camp Kiethley. Is
miles in the interior. \ military road
has been constructed between these
TWO camps, following for the greater
part Of the way the Spanish trail. Ow-
ing to the heavy rainfall and the luxu-
rant growth Of vegetation it is diff
cut to keep Il road in repair. and not
lar from the coast we passed a largo
number of prisoners who We're engaged
III Strengthening and improving it.
About three miles from the coast We
made Il short detour in order TO see the
FAMOUS Argus falls. ana they are we'll
worth seeing. The Argus river. which
at this point is a large stream. falls
~ feet and ruSheS by a tOrtuouS route
through The narrow walls of Il gorge.
The falls are not only picturesque. but
'hey suggest the possibility of future
use. 1t has been calculated thai 100.-
O~oo-hOrSe power is here DIN to waste
which might be put to use. The mill
tafN authorities have been trying to
secure an appropriation for an electric
railroad from Camp OVerton to Camp
kiethley, with the intention of obtain
ing power from the falls. but this
Wouid utilize only a small fraction Of
The energy which the Argus possesses.
Two miles farther W the road We
turned aside to see the rapids of the
same river, and here made our FIRST aC-
puaIntancc with the Moros. We found
y dozen of them under a rude shed OF
PAIN leaves, preparing the evening
meal. The most conspicuous dish, at
least the dish that attracted our atten-
ton. was a skillet full of transformers
being done to q neat brown over a slow
1ire. While We We're Watching them.
w half bare children returned from
The chase with Il large supply of fresh
gfdsSnoppers strung upon grass. The
NofOS nave a most repulSiVe habit of
dying the teeth black, the enamel be-
Ing hFst Scraped off. Add TO this the
red tinge left on the lips by the chew
ing of the betel nut and the mouth is
anything but beautiful.
The clothing of the Moro is scantv
ard Of a cheap quality. The men when
at work often wear nothing out a
breech cloth. When dressed up they
wear very tight-fitting rousers of gay
color; a tight-ftting waist and a tur-
ban completes their company dress. A
garment much worn by men and Wo-
men is the sarong. which is a piece of
cloth. seWed together like a roller
tower and folded about the body. The
men, no matter what else they wear or
fail to wear. nave a scarf wound