Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-07-16

born. With no thought of wrong doaus.
apparently, they murdered harmlesy fish-
erinen, sailors or peasants dwelling on
tne snOre, II too old or feeble to be worth
transport. and tortured those whom they
carried OF. Among the most dreaded
pirates also were the Seribas and 1akar-
jerts, who. wanted heads and nothing
more; all plumber they surrendered to the
Malay chief who provided the praus and
navigated them. But these were a local
scoCrge.
+ II Is not very surprising to learn that
the worst Malay pirates were not Malays
at all; that unfortunate race bears good
many imputations which 1t does not de-
serve. The Lanuns, or IliaDuns, dwelt
originally in Mindanao, great island
peaceable enough. working gold. They
were not a seafaring people then. though
the chiefs had their gorgeous barges.
The BaliniDi came from SuIu; in fact.
that was piratical name for the island
ers. otherwise called Sulus. Perhaps 1t
practice. for the spaniards were provoked
into sending an expedition against them
so early as 1889. 1t failed. as did many
another, land from that time" says the
what number Of Indians (Filipinos)
have been made prisoners. what villages
have been destroyed: and what vessels
have been captured" But. the spaniards
too hot to hold the Lanun freebooters.
who dispersed, forming settlements up
and down the China Sea, each of which
became centre of piracy.
One can understand that this way of
life fosters courage and enterprise as well
as seamanship. The daring of these two
peoples especially was superb. In their
praus of fifty to hundred tons burden
they started every year with the mon
soon for cruise of six or twelve or even
eighteen months. Nothing daunted them
until the treacherous European invented
steam. Once the Lanuns sent formal
challenge to Batavia. inviting the Dutch
fleet to a duel en- regle; they did not turn
up at the rendezvous. but experts believe
faith. The length of their cruises is
scarcely credible. Wallace says the Su-
lus not infrequently reached Ceram and
New Guinea. They were brave to mad
ness full of life and energy. Some boys
were taken in the fight between the Rain
bow and squadron Of Lanuns In 1852. OF
which Bishop MacDougal wrote a famous
awak. these urchins instantly put them
selves at the head of the native youth.
and organized 1t for mischief. l once
beard beard the ..,, commandant say to Rajah
Der In the town again until you send
those Lanun brats away 1t is a ques-
ton whether these races took to piracy
stronger character. than their neighbors.
or whether piracy developed their facul-
ties; but certainly they were the most
vigorous and hopeful Of the peoples called
Malay. Crawford admits that the Suius
had attained a considerable civilization
of their own; in fact. Hunts report on
the main island drawn up for Sir SATIN
ford Rallies, pictures it garden. ad-
mirably cultivated by free and happy
people. Doubtless the pirates were law
abiding, and industrious when at home.
But the high prosperity represented by
early travellers came to an end under the
attarks of Spanish, Dutch and
British squadrons. In 1878 the Spanish
were able to conquer Sulu. That Incu-
bus has been removed. happily, and we
may hope that the former pirates will
show their capacity as leaders in the
march of progress under American rule.