Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-07-25
The island
With An Arnu
OF Ghosts

- ESPIIE the scoffers there Is pretty widespread
l belief in ghosts apparitions, wraiths and vampires
k> throughout the civilized world
England is OF the most prolific ghost-producng
countries, with eere wraiths reported nhabng historic
castles and ruins
Africa and the tropical American countries constantly
provide stories of both city jungle
Savonic people in great numbers believe firmly IN the
existence of vampires
But nowhere on earth people ghost-ridden
the inhabitants Suu Archipelago. That part
Of the world whore each man and woman has his own
personal and private-ghost
The Island Of Sulu itself populated by Land Moros
Water Moros Chinese Fipnos and Mestzos Consequently
ghosts Water Moro ghosts and racial
ghosts for each of the other groups.
A tribe OF Water Moros the Island OF Sassi has
most interesting collection of spooksso in fact
that the inhabitants as large the feshy in
habitants would not be for both.
The Moros confidently believe these ghosts circle
island the surface and the only Of keeping
them away is to plant ghost flags on jut
and shelving beaches Just pieces
white cloth attached sticks these ghostlke flags
dot the shorelines like hocks of weird sea birds
The natives happy because they believe that pas
sage of the flag barrier by ghost would mean deahor
whatever stricken ghosts sufferto offending ghost
No hutsonstakes of the Water Moros-their normal
habitaton built without protecting circle
flags This fence of bunting makes ii possible for Madam
Moro go wadng, kneedeep from door door On her
social calls and for the babies to drop through the bamboo
play with their half-brothers the fishes without
danger OF moestaton from specters, spooks spirits
But sometimes too wide space IS left IN the row OF
flags and ghost does creep in Then. consequence
baby browns the parents become seriously Ill So
other flag added and this way the gap closed TO
visitors.
Across from siass is another island fertile in the
visitors recently asked why the island is taboo.
Ghosts" the
This stirred the curiosity OF group OF Americans
decided investigate the island Moro boatmen
ried the group the channel their "vinas"
pointed out the customary white flags they neared the
The Americans landed and within the shelerng
semcrcle while the dusky guides explained why the island
taboo
This island, they said while it might been
tivated in coconus hemp rubber and just rocked
ghosts and person would stay there
The natives tried to Keep the ghosts from crossing
TO by feeding them well
this the speaker pointed few yards inland.
There, just beyond the reach of the and behind
sheltering boulder, a circle big flat
which the ghosts table 1t been
primitive coconut shell dishes Moros
use and the menu was like their own consisting principally
of rice, with few sides of fruit and fish.
The boatman brought his passengers back from the
island with plenty of time left before niehtfal His fears
deepseated that he refused offer Of $50 made
by of his passengers If he would spend the night on
the island. The American knew his money safe.
The Land Moro although identical in appearance with
the Water Moro has different dialect and customs The
two types do not inermarry but the link that unes
them is ghosts. Each group is firm in its belief in the
spirits and the lives Of all shaped by that The
Land Moro however does not put ghost fagshe flies
kites
1t was the Chncse-a large percentage of the inhab-
ants OF the isandwho taught these Moros the art OF
Alternating The singing kind the the Moros
fer and use most frequently, .a-....----.-------
There is recognized season each Of special de
voon TO kites and at that time the sky is fairly alive with
these gorgeous spreadeagleshaped monsters The rumble
and buzz is greatke gigantic humble beesthat the
few white residents Of necessity forego their afternoon
sesta.
The Land Moros find some sport id the kte-fying but
primarily IL done offering to the omnipresent
ghosts Once Moros baby ILL., the father
to keep kite in the air for two weeks continuously if
would proIong the life Of the. child
These the most spectacular effects i'm the spirit
business among the islanders of the Sulu Archipelago but
they have the usual ghost spells incantatons
charms for every possible experience from birth to chris
tening, from matrimony to death
THE AMERICAN MEEKIY