Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-06-02
SULTAN Of SULU
.1aH s.e1
{. Joins THE FLYERS
ts.si 10
Ruler Whose Principally Was
Made Famous in Song an
Ardent Aviator.

Aviation has a new regal enthusiast
The Sultan of Sulu is taking to the
air.
"Sulu, known officially as Jolo. and
also as Yolo, is one of the larger islands
of the Sulu (Jolol Archipelago, which
form a series of oceanic stepping stones
from the major cluster of the Philip
pine Islands toward the northwest
coast Of British BorneO,' says bulletin
from the National Geographic Society.
Many poem and many song nave
made obscure places popularity known,
and were it not for the George AIDE
light opera the Suu Islands possibly
would be as unfamiliar as other groups
with queer sounding names-the Siassi,
the Tawi-TaWi or the SamaleS-Which
are in the same archipelago.
Sultan Native Potentate.
"The Sultan of Sulu recognized the
sovereignty of the United States just 80
years ago, but locally he still is a po-
tentate to the native Moros. He lives
in a small settlement. NAHUM, on the
southern coast of the island, which no
where is longer than 80 miles or more
than II miles wide. The former Span.
ish governors stripped him of most OF
his temporal power, but he is the spir-
itual head of the Moro, or Mohamnle-
dan Malay. population.
American travellers usually make
their headquarters at JolO City, where
the United States Army maintains
garrison. The city lies at the head
of a beautiful bay. dotted here and
there with picturesque islands
1.-The small native settlements OF the
island consist. for the most part, OF
iinlsy. thatchroof houses grouped
in heIter-skelter fashion. Some are
adorned with interesting bits of native
carving.
Jolo City Known as Tropical Gem.
But Jolo City is an exception. The
Spanish general who founded it had
an ambition to make it the finest city
in the Spanish colonies. From set
Element of ramshackle huts it has de-
veloped to garden spot OF the trop-
les, with wide streets, shaded from the
hot sun by tall palms and Towering
trees. Gardens, masses of foliage and
parks abound Along main thorough
fares the first floor usually is occupied
by shops, while the merchants children
play on the balconies extending over
the street from the second floor OF the
frame houses
Most of the Jolo inhabitants are
Chinese. Malays and Filipinos. There
are many MoroS in the Jolo street
crowds. but most of them live outside
the city wall When the SpaniardS
first built the city the Moros frequently
attacked it and the natives were never
allowed to enter the bamboo stocKade,
which was built around the town for
protection. Later they were permitted
to enter oaly on condition that they
parked their arms outside the walls.
In those days every Moro man, woman
and child carried knife.
Wall Protected Early City.
bu 2-fnOt
brick wall. with gates leading to the
island interior A drive over the island
roads is like passing through huge
park. Many acres of the island are
occupied by rice fields where turbanedi
natives pillow with carabaos and small
children sit In tiny towers. pulling
strings with, -streamers attached, to
frighten hungry birds.
''The entire family works in hemp
plantations and helps cut teak forests.
At no point on JolO ssthe traveller OUT
of sight of mountains.
''Tun1atangus, the mountain OF tears,
is the highest peak, SO named because
it afforded the last glimpse OF tneir
island home to natives who Wept "heh
they were deported in bygone days.
THE DURAN tree, towering high ABOVE
all others. interests visitors. 1tS 1rult
is highly priced by, the F1llplnos. IL Is
about the size of a foot ball, weighs
from TO 10 POUNDS, ana mas d sur
like the spiny back of a porcupine. Inc
edible part of the DURAN clings to about
two dozen seeds as large as hens eggs.
The substance tastes like bananas, but
its odor is not Immediately pleasing to
unaccustomed nostrils.
Bamboo Tube Water Bucket.
1.-THE Jolo highways are alive with
men, women and children on their way
to market Now and then boy trudges
along under the weight of what appears
to be long bamboo pole, about 4 or
5 inches in diameter and 6 feet long
The traveller learns that this is the
Jolo water bucket. The MoroS like
color, which sharply contrasts with
their OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES skin. Men
wear red turbans, purple trousers and
shirts of other brilliant colors, while
their barefoot, hatless wives wear long
sleeved jackets and voluminous skirts.
The Moro Women'S teeth are usually
black from chewing betel nut.
The Bajaos, or sea gypSies OF Jolo.
live along the coast in hutS raised on
high stills, or in boats. The front steps
of the Bajaos' hut is notched log up
which a woman can nimbly carry
small baby The Bajaos stay on land
only few hours at time, for even
when a storm is raging on the sea they
feel safer in their ocean front abOdeS."