i 9 °s] METZGER— THE FILIPINO. 31 



throughout Spain's regime to rule by tribal custom under the direc- 

 tion of a Datto or chief and recognizing only the spiritual supremacy 

 of the Sultan, whose position is hereditary under the Salic law and 

 who annually makes his trip to Mecca. 



The Mussulmans are a valiant and merciless people and for cen- 

 turies they controlled the high seas in that part of the world, ravish- 

 ing the coasts in their piratical workings. It was not until the 

 introduction of steam vessels that Spain was able to cope with these 

 robbers of the seas. The Moro is very much averse to work, con-' 

 sequently he is not an agriculturist. His whole ambition in life 

 seemingly is to strut about in gaudy attire, and encased in a veri- 

 table arsenal of knives, etc. 



Slavery exists in an occult sense among these people. There 

 are slaves by birth and slaves by conquest, such as insolvent debtors 

 and prisoners of war. Unlike the other tribes of the islands the 

 veracity of these people is not to be questioned, for to lie with 

 them is a heinous crime and deserving of severe punishment, the 

 penalty of which is usually the severing of the tongue or splitting 

 the mouth. 



Until 1902 these people gave the United States authorities no 

 trouble but the moment their ancient rights, customs and religion 

 were supposed to have been interfered with, it was the stirring up 

 of a hornet's nest. 



Many other characteristics might be enumerated if but time per- 

 mitted, however, this will suffice to show the character of these 

 people as we see them to-day. 



