Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-10-02
SULTAN AT HOME
Visit of T. w. Moves to JoIo Is
Recalled.
HIS ACCOUNT OF TRIP
Meeting of Ruler of Sulu and Ameri-
can Officers Described.
NATIVE DANCES IN THE PLAZA
Interesting Pen Picture Of Potentate
Now Touring United States.
Loses His Cane. ..------.
NATIVE DANCES IN THE PLAZA

American annals since Admiral Dewey S
victory I'm Manila bay in 1893. 1t may be
of interest, therefore, to those who have
followed the course of this petty ruler
of the orient to review some of the obser-
Vations made by Theodore w. Noyes In
the editorial correspondence of The Star
during the early days of the American
control of the Philippines and adjacent
islands ceded to the United States at the
close of the Spanish-American war. MT.
Noyes has compiled this correspondence
In book form under the title 'Orie ntal
America and Its Problems" One of the
earlier chapters tells of his visit In jan
uary, 1900, to the southern Philippines,
and particularly to the realms of the
Sultan of the Sulu Archipelago.
The Sulu archipelago proper, Minda-
mao and Balawan." Mr.. Noyes writes,
contain the bulk of the Moros or Ma
fometdn Filipinos.
SPANS sovereignty here. to which We
have succeeded. though fully recognized,
was exceedingly feeble, and was bolstered
zip 10y agreements with and concessions
TO the Moro sultans or dattos, and
especially the pOtentate who lives on this
Islan nd OF Jolo
The Sultan of the Sulu Archipelago
claims political and religious jurisdiction
not only over that group of islands.
among which he includes Mindanao. but
also over Palawan and North Borneo. His
religious control, as representative OF the
prophet. is more widely recognized than
his political and military sway. Minda-
mao. which has sultans of its own, does
not recognize him at all. Palawan also
has sultan. Even in the sultan's own
Island of Jolo there are dattos who,
while grudgingly owning allegiance to him,
like the most powerful baronS OF the
middle ages. believe themselves stronger
t,1I,, loud r1d rrol
him. and are entirely ready to fight their
nominal superior.
Has 10000 Fighting Men.
"The sultan has. however, in the SuIu
group 10000 people and 10000 fighting
men of Mahometan contempt for death
and of piratical and blood-letting ten
dency and inclination who would prob
ably respond enthusiastically to his call
for arms, especially if holy war were
declared. SO that in spite Of his troubles
as ruler he Is entitled to receive, and
has received. a certain degree of consider
alton from the meddlesome Americans
who have interviewed SO recently and SO
vigorously in Asiatic affairs.
Through the wise diplomacy of Gen.
3Ates and the tact of officers serving
inder him in dealing with the problem
: She relations between the United States
and the Moros are distinctly amicable,
and a dangerous period in the history
of American operations in the Philippines
has been safely passed
"As evidence Of mutual confidence the
Moro when he enters city like Jolo
the American headquarters in the Sulu
archipelago, disarms at the gate, and so
when the American officer or soldier goes
out into the country. as from Zamboanga,
he also lays aside his arms.
The 18th of January. 1900, was great
day for Jolo. An army transport was
n q IA rh hrin pir aaYin N
officers stationed there the second in
stallment of woman visitors recorded in
the red-letter chronicles Of the American
military occupation. The Sultan of Sulu,
whose shanty palace was at his nipa-hut
capital of Nahum, some twelve miles
away. on the other side of the beautiful
little Island of Joio. was also guest.
And these distinguished visitors were to
be brought together in an Irresistible
combination of Asiatic and American roy
atty. the great occasion being celebrated
both by Moro and American festivities.
Miniature Walled Town.
''Jolo is miniature walled town with
broad, clean. tree-lined streets. 1t has
room within its tiny Enclosure for a pop
uIation of few hundred, and is sur
rounded by loop-hoIed wall eight feet
high. a very broad street, as wide as
Pennsylvania avenue in Washington
ic1uS ITOHl the pier straight TO the south
wall. II serves the purposes OF a plaza
and of parade and review ground for
Jolo. This was the scene of the main
festivities of the day. beginning with
naive dances, TO be followed by re-
view of the American troops.
THE native dances took pdace i'm the
plaza, in the welcome shade of tall trees
of tropical density of foliage. The spec
tators formed circle. Chairs protected
from the surging crowd by rope &C.
cupied section of the ring and were used
by the American women and other dis
tfnguished visitors Moros in every vari-
ETY. OF picturesque attire. further diversi-
ned by an occasional soldier. rounded out
the circle and supplied an exhibit almost
as interesting as the dances themselves
On the Moro side of the circle was the
native tom-tom orchestra. Two wooden
drums were beaten b. mems hands Three
gongs suspended from a rope at regular
intervals were struck by sticks tightly
bound with cords to muffle the sound.
Eight small. covered pots standing on
cords above a hollow wooden box were
beaten in an intended tune by bamboo
sticks
Unique Dances Given.
In the center Of the circle were plac-
ed large heavy wooden shield and a
long spear. with bells at the handle The
first actordancer was dressed In the Gus
tomary tight trousers and jacket, a bril-
liant sash with his barong thrust through
its folds. and turban made by folding a
brfght-colOred square OF cloth. The
sleeves of this absurd little Jacket were
long and came down well over his hands
as IL he had outgrown the garment In
body. but had shrunken in Hngth of arm
The dancer picked up the spear and shield
looked quickly to the right and the left
for his imaginary antagonist. caught sigh,
of him. and advanced with spear pointed
toward him. protecting himself with the
shield. He ciTcled around his enemy
thrusting again and again. elancing over
his shield 10 aim at another Finally a
well directed stroke placed his enemy al
his mercy. I'nSheathing his barone Inc
deca pitated his antagonist and retired ir
triumph.
In the next war dance. two men par.
ticipated-until one gave way and the vic.
tor strutted from the ring amid the loud.
est cries OF the Nero ,ystanders VIII,
had kept W d constant Shouting duriua
tie whole encounter.
Then followed peace dances in which
men. women and children appeared IN
succession. In america and Europe lii,
EGGS dance. In Egypt the body achie.e.
>o-cal!ed dancing. In Jolo the function I.
transferred still farther upward and tn.
arms and shoulders have their day
The performance concluded with more
spear dancing by the men. including a
snake dance in which the performer indi-
lated In psntomirne the pain and horro,
of one bitten by a serpent which haG
hidden under his shield.
Greeting Given Sultan.