Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-25

sea astern. and after rounding the northwest
point of Luzon. swung due south through the
Mindoro Straits and the Sulu Sea, down the
west coast of Mindanao passing Zamboanga
and glimpsing the Suu Archipelago eventually
dropping anchor off the Island of Sarangani.
High up on a promontory, towering above
the teeming jungle growth two clumpS OF
feathery palms stand out clearly against the
sky They mark the grave of Sarangani, the
pirate and the Moros will tell you that this
place is haunted after nightfal by the ghosts
of his murdered female slaves There certainly
seems to be something sinister in the hot, stu
air of this island of CHASTITY memories. After
shutdown my pagan crew resolutely refused to
set foot ashore there. Sarangani's loot, with
the bodies of his murdered victims, certainly
lies buried there, and the old corsair's name
has been written on the map His tomb is
local object of Superstitious awe. He sleeps in
the island that bears his name, and those tall
clumps of palmS-one at his head and one at
his foot-almost seem to nod their fronded
heads close together as if they were whispering
of bloody a-battles along the ravaged coasts.
Sarangani was a Scourge of the seas, the
most ferocious of all the dreaded MoroS buc-
cancers and bandits to the backbone. In my
wanderings through the wonderful and romantic
Island of Mindanao, with its extraordinary
variety of Mohammedan and pagan tribes,
invariably found the predoninating race to be
the Moros, who rule the Sulu Archipelago and
Northern Mndanao. They certainly bear the
stamp of the born fighter and the typical cor
sair of the East With fearless eyes, deep-set
beneath beetling brows, wide in the noStrn,
with cruel sensual mouths, you can picture
them swarming over the bulwarks of captured
ship ripe for the uttermost excuses of robbery,
murder and rape Not until the American oc-
cupation of 1898 did the Moros suffer any
appreciable check to their maraudng expe-
dtions.
TIE Sangil and Samal Moros cared as little
for an angry sea they did for the Spanish
dons With their vintas-probably the fastest
sailing ship in the world-they prowled as far
north on the north coast of Luzon Banqui,
which they sacked and destroyed twice. and
far east as the wonderful little port of San
Vicente, where there is little island named
after them. 1t is q significant name, too. It
is called Fuga Moros-which means Moro Fire"
and wildly suggests cruel baptism with flame
and sword. In the good old days-so far the
MoroS were concerned-of piracy, Sarangani,
most notorious buccaneer of them all, plundered
and murdered to his hearts content until his
name was the terror of the Philippines.
Sarangani was the bloodiest of all the Moro
datos who made their piratical nests in the
Sulu and Celebes Seas Even in death the
tribes still fear him. The natural beauty Of
his palm fronded grave the hill is a thing
OF SuperstitiouS horror to them. found, by the
way. that the old Moro burial grounds were
usually planted with palms-the bamboo, areca
and the betel.
Strategically the island was ideal for Saran-
ganis operations. Its natural strength con-
sisted Of three hand-locked ports two Of which
commanded the renowned Sarangani Straits
and woe betide the unfortunate merchantmen
becalmed in those narrow waters! Her every
movement was noted by hawk-eyed scouts, and
when she had drifted near enough the MoroS
swarmed to the attack in their fast-raking
vintas and boarded her fore and aft port and
stafboard. The stoutest crew hadn't a dogs
chance. After the massacre the ship was towed
in. looted thoroughly and dismantled.
But Sarangani did not confine his activities
to the straits Those little forays in the neigh
borhood of his home were regarded, probably,
as welcome breaks to the peaceful monotony Of
his domestic life. Like all great freebooters,
Sarangani was a bold adventurer and sailed
far from his island home. Perhaps his happiest
hunting grounds were in the northern islands
Of the VisayaS and along the coast of the great
Island of Luzon itself. These Moro pirates were
women hunters as we'll treasure seekers, and
. traficked heavily in female slaves. Their ships
would return loaded not only with rich booty,
but with terrified women whom they had cap
tured during their cruise. Year after year
Sarangani sailed north on the southwest mon
soon and returned on the northeast monsoon
with cargoes of loot and disprited captive girls
Although the Spanish government offered big
rewards for his capture, he always gave them
the slip and managed to return In triumph to
Sarangani Island. Naturally, during these many
years of successful raiding and looting old
Sarangani accumulated an immense hoard Of
gold silver and precious stones.
According to local tradition he fabulouSly
rich and his wealth aroused the cupidity of his
brother pirates, but they rarely dared to touch
him. His indomitable courage and Sagacity
were too much for the Moros well as for the
Spaniards. A few futile attempts were made
to N4est some OF his hoard from him, but they
were defeated and punished with the most
frightfu forms of cold-blooded ferocity.