The Washington times., 1908-05-03
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Beng Mohammedaus Of "a peculiarly
zeal sort. they have long cen imbued with TIC
idea that the killing Of Christians-ridding the
earth Of their hateful presence-insures admis-
sion TO heaven
The greater the number Of @unbelievers"
slain the higher, they think. VIII be The slayers
seat upon the steps of the heavenly throne.
When the Spaniards discovered the Philip
pines, some 400 years ago. they found the Moros
occupying, as now, about ninety islands south Of
Mindanao, the large southern island of the Phil
ippine group, and stretching far away toward
Borneo
Not 50 very long before. It seemed, a large
tribe Of Malavs from Borneo had made their
way into the Sulu islands people SO fierce
and warlike IN disposition. so bold and daring IN
action, that for centuries thereafter. they defed
the power Of Spain and made that part Of the
Philippines very uncomfortable place Tor the
Europeans.
ANY kind Of work except that connected with
his profession as q warrior Is distasteful to the
average Moro. He expeetc to find all his phys
ical wants supplied by his wives-they were
looked after largely By his slaves as long as he
was permitted 10 have them
Much 10 the disgust OF the Moros the Amer
leans have done away with slavery Formerlv,
for failure 10 pay a debt as low as $3.50 gold
both a man and MS family could be enslaved.
It was Moro practice, running back for
hundreds Of years At one time, 1t was esti-
mated that nearly 10000 Fiipinos we're held n
slavery on the island Of Jolo-
Until some time IN the sixties, when feet
IT steam eunboats broke up the practice. he
Moros were given greatly TO piracy OF the hich
seas. Even now they are not averse TO any den
redations they NAV carry on in the waters about
thcir island homes.
Their praus. OF boats. are neatly carved from
logs. sharp at both ends. and can be se1t
through the water at great speed Bamboo out
ricrers preveut them from sinking
Moro lads begin their education early-it =
IT odrcation Of arms They practice constantly
with the shield. the campil. n. a kind Of sword;
the baronc. which Is used fer close conflict 81
IS the favOrite weapon Of the juramentada: AID
the kris which Is for thrustinr and cutting
Moro. as a rule. becomes so expert II the use OF
the barong that he can deeapitate at
single stroke.
On the water these people use kind Of "a
segai. called "bsgsaeay," OF "simbiin." which i
about half an inch in diameter with a sharp
point. Some of the more expert can throw four
IF these at time. MAKING hem spread ont N
their flight
Very skilful do the Mo-os become in The
manufacture of their weapons Blades of their
Knives are as finely tempered and as sharp as
Damascus blade Their homes are s-mories
Within the last few years a number of Moros
have come into the possession Of firearms
'The innate cruelty Of the Moros," stated
Filipino writer shortly after American occu-
nancy Of the archipelago, "is shown IN their
0ca1ngs with the savage tribes OF MindanaO.
whose men they hunt with murderous zeal
"The title of bagani' gives its holder The
right to wear a scarlet turban and makes him
eligible 20 the Office Of chief But 70 c5tain this
title the aspirant must have cut of sixty human
heads
'These are sought from the savage Man
dayas Of the interior. who are pursued remOrse-
lessly through the deep forests They build their
nuts high up IN the trees and defend themselves
With stones.
"'Ghe Moros seek TO bring them down By
hoOtine burning arrows at the huts II these
soil they climb the trees with their shields lock
II above their heads. and cut down the posts that
Import the huts. The captives are then divided,
''e heads of the men are cut of and the women
nd children held as slaves"
Except in the wilder parts Of the archi-
pclago these practices have been stopped almost
ntirely by the Americans