Willmar tribune., 1909-12-01
HE f1ourishing town Of Zam-
boanga, in the Philippine is
lands, Is we'll laid out and
the ever-present Chino sup
plies the modest wanta of

the ever-present Chino sup
plies the modest wants OF
life. The military post Is
Just outside the fort and supplied with
the most comfortable and pretentious
houses have seen in any garrison
over here. AS Zamboanga is peace
1ul province one can drive through
Morotown without anxiety. The smell
OF dried fish greets one everywhere
Part of the village is built out over the
water and the glimpses of life in it are
most interesting.
AT Jolo carriage was waiting for
US and we drove at once beyond the
walled city and out through the fa-
nous avenue of palms. Later we
walked beyond the walls, and through
Morotown. Six guards stand before
. the gate and warn everyone of the
danger of going beyond the walls on
foot and repeat the prohibition for Of
1cers to do so unarmed. We were
told that only few days before our
arrival Moro had attacked one of
the guards; but we had not come thus
far to be cheated of so unusual an ex-
perience, and the element of real
danger had it's charms; SO armed with
loaded revolver, sharp kris and a
parasol we started out. After crossing
the bridge, where we were quite out of
hearing Of the garrison, we walked one
behind the other and kept a sharp
lookout on every side. At the we'll in
the center of Morotown we stopped for
a good look at the spot where three of
our soldiers were attacked while they
were sitting there chatting three
months before.
These Moros trace their origin to
the Mohammedan invaders and like all
Of their tribe hate Christians and be-
degree of felicity is attained for the
after life. In a condition of religious
insanity the "juramentada" takes an
oath to kill Christians until he himself
is killed. He shaves his eyebrows
and head, works himself into a state
Of frenzy during night devoted to re-
iigious excesses and then starts out on
the warpath. Death being the only
possible end for him, he is entirely
fearless and reckless.
Beyond the wall in Morotown long
rickety pier runs out into the water
and we walked the length of it, enter
ing many of the houses to bargain for
brass and chow baskets. On these oc-
casions we kept our backs to the wall
and hurried on when we noticed any
of them stopping too long to examine
us with their cruel glances. They will
kill as readily to procure firearm as
for anything else and it was impos-
sible not to feel constant anxiety, as
we knew the danger to be entirely real.
We we're too far from the walls for
cries to be heard, and. even shot, If it
brought rescue at all, could do so only
too late. 1t was Intensely interesting,
intensely exciting, but the tension was
too great to be a pleasure for long,
and was glad to be safe back inside
the walls again. Here we were met
at every turn by Moros selling pearls.
and as we had nothing to fear from
those inside we had leisure to examine
them and their wares. Jolo Is famous
for its pearl fisheries, and although
the best pearls are bought up before
they reach the visitors hand, some
pretty ones can be found.
There was a fascination about being
in the very heart of the country of
those Malay pirates whose deeds we're
among the favorite stories of child
hood. The name Sulu is to the inhabi-
tants Of other islands synonymous
with treachery and ferocity. Piracy
was a regular trade among the ma
tives, whose daring exploits carried
them as far as Singapore and New
Guinea. where they spread misery and
devastation. AS far north as Mala-
bang on the Celebes sea there are
blockhouses along the coast for refuge
from these sea robbers. Seen from
the water the town of Jolo is extreme