El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-07-03
Is New Indian Problem
in the Philippines. Are Worse
Than Indians Ever We're; I'm
conquered For Centuries.
- ~ LCreLerlr j. unelZLn---
Ierir J. HasiSiR-
,AsHINGTON. b. q. b

w In many respects the Moro
problem is the indian problem
I all over again Some Of the
I fiercest campaigns in the Philippines
have been waged against these
l Mohammedan MaIays and to this day
J they are conquered but not subdued.
: At this very writing Gen. Pershing is
/ conducting a campaign against the
Datto Anil Of JoIo. 1t is generally
remarked of the Moro as it was of the
indian that the only good Moro is a
dead one. The Moro is as ferocious.
cruel and untamable as an indian ever
was.
Are Uneonquered People.
In the 800 years that the Spaniards
Eeld the Philippines they never con-
Orite expression of Gen Luke L.
wright the second governor general
OF the islands the Spaniards broke
their teeth on the MOros. We have
been more fortunate than this. A body
Of American soldiers governs each dis
trtct After several years of hard
lighting the MOrOs realize that the
American is master, but this has not
corner OF the Sulu seas to the other.
There is no telling when the Moro
country will be peaceful
There are approximately coo. 600
danaOs, the JOlOs. the Samals. the
MaguindanaOs. the Yakans, the kali
buganes a mixed tribe of MOrOs and
SubanOs, and the IlanOs who live in
lew numbers along the sea c00-- OF
Malabang. Most Of the MOrOs are land
people, but throughout the entire Sulu
archipelago are to be found a people
called the Bajuas, the sea Eypsies-
Blackcn Their Teeth.
The MOrOs have a thousand ard ono
peculiarities and among them IS the
hablI OF filing and blaCkcniug the
teeth The teeth are filed at the gums
and sometimes at the edges. apparently
10 give them an outward curve rms
painful practice is begun by both boys
and girls and continued for several
years The front teeth are filled with
copper and are then supposed to be
horn The dive which blackens the
very pretty. False teeth are made Of
teeth consists as a rule, of lemon
Juice, rusty iron and a certain vege-
laDle sap The Moro IS fond Of over
laying his black teeth with the red
stain that comes from chewing the be-
tel nut which is also popular among
the ChristianiZed FiIipinOs. The betel
nut is made of extracts from the areca
ana the pepper plant 1t is supposed
to aid digestion. preserve the teeth
and relieve bodily fatigue
Never Fights Fairly.
BY instinct the Moro is warlike and
eNnlDltS cruelty toward his enemy in q
particularly savage manner. Ready
and eager to shed blood. independent
and Jealous in nature. he makes war
on slight prOvOcatiOn whether the
enemy De 4 body OF Christians or an
other group of AOrOs It is a matter
Of principle with him to never fight
fairly. He prefers to make cOwardly
attacks under the EUise of friendship
or TO sneak IN in the night or under
cover like a Shiny snake in the grass.
NO man leaves his house without being
armed with a kris or a barOng. The
barong is a sort Of sword with a blade
from y to Il inches long the front
and back oval shaped meeting at an
acute angle at the point The more
people kris or q barOng has killed
the higher is its marketable value.
Rathes. But Lives In Filth.
While the Moro lives uD TO this part
~ his religion. he does not let the
self sacrificing tenets Of the Koran
weigh heavily upon his mind. This
sacred hook tells him to keep clean. /
So he takes a bath every day and then I
lets filth accumulate around him in
side and outside of his house. He is I
supposed to pray five hours day. but I
he scrapes along with an hour or less.
He is very temperate in the use Of I
intoxicants and narcotics. but he de- 4
li@nts in smuggling arms and opium I
from BorneO.
His principal articles Of food are rice I
for which corn is sometimes substi- (
tuted. fish, chickens. wild fruits and I
oil The natives are fond OF 1
chicken and eggs and most families I
raise poultry for the table. Pork IS I
forbidden by the MOhammedan religion. |
and the use Of venison or the flesh OF ]
the carabOa, OK, or goat is limited Fish I.
IS an important staple and a favoTite !
dish.
Not Strong for Dress.
Both men and women dress simply |
Not infreQuently men will wear only 4
a sarong or a cloth which is wrapped /
around the waist above the breech !
clout When the Moro man is dressed J
up IN his best bib and tucker. he wears \
skin tight jacket and trousers. the 4
latter being buttOned close to the ankle I
and full in the seat The women usually /
wear a sarOng about four feet wide
and 10 feet long which is wrapped
around the body from the armpfts down.
the loose end being thrown over one
shoulder. When they are dressed up
Tor company or for an unusual event
they wear a close fitting jacket and
loose trousers. They frequently adorn
their persons with rings and bracelets
Of brass and other metals. Only a few
wealthy men or those Of high rank
wear sandals, and shoes are practically
unknown to the entire race.
POlygamy and slavery are praCticed
by the MorOs and the Americans have !
been unable to suppress these customs. /
man may have as many wives as he
can support and. Of course. the tribal
sulta1s or datos whose rule is supreme
among their people have many wives
md slaves, to say nothing OF the an /
nual tribute which they exact from
their subjects. Nearly all crimes can
be paid for in money and of this the
latO takes his share while the injured /
parties take the rest. The fine for
murder is about the equivalent Of 500.
United States currency. In default of
payment for any amount the culprit ]
Is sentenced TO slavery A man may
be convicted upon the testimony of a /
single witness, which fact together
with the custom Of giving half Of the
fine to the plaintiff. often makes the
prisoner a victim of revenge.
Tomorrow The IEOrOts