The sun., 1919-02-02
DEATH OF A GREAT DATU.
Had!i Abdullah, Enlightened Moro
Leader in Mindanao.

The many army and navy officers who
have enjoyed the acquaintance and hos
pitality OF Datu Hadji Abdullah Nuno
will be surprised and grieved to learn OF
the death Of this remarkable man. which
| occurred at his home, Taluksangay.
Sakol Straits. zamboanga district Min
danao, Philippine Islands, on May %.
1918.
| The funeral ceremonies were commen-
| surate with the Importance OF the &C.
casion, the high Official position Of the
chief, his commanding influence among
his people and the widespread feeling OF
loss throughout the province. The lead
| Ing officials Of the Provincial Govern
ment attended the funeral
From the very beginning OF American
occupation In the southern Philippines
the HadJi placed himself In line with
the Governments policy, and sought In
every way to direct his people accord
| ingly. In this respect he succeeded as
did no other Moro headman. Whatever
the occasion, in the interest Of the pub
| lie service he was foremost in contrib
uting to the success Of the scheme by
all means in his power. being lavish OF
his time, his money and also of his prop
erty and labor.
The Hadji made Of the rancheria of
Taluksangay. after the advent of fun
| American authority, a model town as to
sanitary and Industrial conditions and
as to respect for the requirements Of law
and good order. The Datu Hadji was a
| n or IcIa lie
devotion to that faith being based on
thorough instruction at Mecca and pro.
longed and intelligent study OF the Duran.
! The mosque at Taluksangay, erected
under his personal supervision after pro-
| longed effort and considerable expense,
was altoge Their the finest structure Of its
kind in the southern Philippines. pho
\ tograph and description OF this church
| was filed in May. 1918. at the Palace Of
the Sheikh-ul-IslaIn (the Pope Of the Mo-
hammedans) In Ystamboul. Constants
! nople, and thereafter received the bless-
, ing of the Sultan OF the Ottoman Empire
| as the Commander Of all the Faithful.
Sultan Mehmed v. presented the Moros
! for the proper furnishing Of the interior
Of the mosque at Taluksangay num-
| tablets of extracts from the Duran in
Arabic, which were placed in the mosque
with due ceremony In January. 1914.
Datu Abdullah early made the GUS
tomary pilgrimage to the Mohammedan
| shrine at Mecca and became In conse-
quence Had3i While a strong sup
porter OF the Mohammedan Panditi
schools, In order to perpetuate among the
Moro people an Intelligent understanding
of their faith and a practical knowledge
of its application to the daily affairs OF
hfe, he nevertheless insisted upon the in
PRODUCTION and loyal maintenance OF the
American public school system.
He also favored the mental and voca-
tional education OF Moro women, but
warned his people against any form of
instruction which would result in discon-
tent with home life and the responsible
ties Of the family. The Hadji earnestly
held that we'll ordered family was the
| foundation OF good citizenship and the
prosperity OF every community. He de-
voutly wished that all Moros become
| loyal American citizens and held that
SUCH citizenship could best be secured
and maintained by them through faith
full observance OF the tenets OF the Duran.
| He desired all OF the Moro people fully
to appreciate the Justice and beneficence
of the American Government in securing
for the natives OF the Philippine Islands.
by the terms OF the treaty OF Paris OF
December. 1898. the inestimabie right TO
worship according to their own faith and
convictions
The Hadji deplored the occurrence of
the world war that burst upon the Chris
tlan nations in August, 1914, not only be-
cause It broke or all connection with the
Shrine and schools OF Islamic instruction
at Mecca, but more than all that the
great conflict interfered with the peace
full progress OF 30 many nations and re-
suited In such a ruthless destruction OF
10th life and property. The Moros offered
their services to Join the American troops
IN France and were anxious to make any
sacrifice deemed pecessary for permanent
peace.
Born about seventy years ago on the
Island OF Balangtngi in the Sulu Archi-
pelago. the Hadji came from a family
and a locality noted for It's fierce pratt
cal leaders. He was captured on that
island by the Spanisrds when that
stronghold fell to Spanish arms, and
many others with him were exiled to the
Isabella Province in the Island OF Luson
While there the Hadji acquired the Span
ish language and expert knowledge IN
the cultivation and curing of tobacco. On
tho acquisition OF the Philippines by the
United States the Datu changed his resi-
dence to Sakol Straits and became chief
OF the rancheria of Taluksangay. His
strong personality. marked qualities of
leadership. quick intelligence. agreeable
manners and genuine. hospitality made
him powerful influence among all
classes OF people
He was genuinely tho, Abraham L!n-
coin OF the Moros, and his passing de-
serves more than an ordinary chronicle
His worthinesv and deeds OF excellence
and loyalty rose Tar above the accom-
rllshments of the average man of his
race. His name and public services de-
serve to be perpetuated by appropriate
recognition on the part OF the GoverI-
ment and to serve as an incentive for the
welldoing OF other Moros
JOHN p. FINLEY,
Colonel L. S. A, Retired