The Moro capital was assaulted by Spain on sixteen occasions, five of which resulted in the capture of the city. No permanent Spanish garrison was established until 1876, from which time the city was occupied continuously until the final evacuation of the American army in May, 1899.

1598. - Sever Spanish assault repulsed. The Moros inflicted heavy losses upon the attacking force.

1600. - Juan Gallinato attacked Jolo with a force of 200 Spanish soldiers. The force was cut to pieces.
1601. - A Spanish force retreated after three months' heavy fighting had failed to reduce the city.

1628. - A Spanish attack failed to drive the Moro defenders from the walls.

1630. - Spanish soldiers again repulsed by the kris men.

1638. - Corcuera attacked Jolo with a force of eighty ships and 2000 men. The city was captured and burned and a small garrison was left which was annihilated by the Moros.

1721. - Roxas was defeated by the Moros in a series of engagements before the city walls.
1722. - Andreas Garcia failed in an attack on Jolo.

1731. - General Ignacio Iriberri took a force of 1000 men to Jolo and captured the town after a lengthy siege. The Spaniards evacuated in a few days.

1755. - In retaliation for terrible pirate raids, the Spaniards took a large expedition to Jolo but were defeated. This expedition consisted of 1900 men. The Moros were treacherously fired upon when they approached under a white flag to ask news of the imprisoned Sultan, Alimud Din I.

1775. - Following a Moro raid on Zamboanga, Vargas took a punitive expedition to Jolo but was repulsed.

1784. - Aguilar went against Jolo in a series of unsuccessful assaults.

1850. - Spanish attack failed.
1851. - Urbiztondo attacked Jolo, which was captured and burned. Spanish troops withdrew after removing many brass cannon.

1876. - Malcampo led the final assault on Jolo, using a force of 9000 men. This resulted in the final capture of the town and its retention until the close of the Spanish-American war.

During the 321 years of struggle for the Moro capital, it was held by the Moros for 290 years and by a Spanish garrison for 31 years.

It is interesting to note that during the whole course of the Spanish occupation of the Philippine Islands, covering a period of 377 years, they were able to maintain a government in Jolo for only twenty-two years. In that length of time there were twelve military governors, as follows:

Captain P. Cervera 1876

Brigadier Jose Paulin 1876-1877

Col. Carlos Martinez 1877-1880

Col. Rafael de Rivera 1880-1881

Col. Isidro G. Soto 1881-1882

Col. Eduardo Bremon 1882

Col. Julian Parrrado 1882-1884

Col. Francisco Castilla 1884-1886

Col. Juan Arolas 1886-1893

Col. Caesar Mattos 1893

Gen. Venancio Hernandez 1893-1896

Col. Luis Huerta 1869-1899

1380. - Coming of the Mohammedan missionary, Rajah Baguinda.

1450. - Coming of Abu Bakr, the first Sultan of Sulu.

1512. - The appearance of Portuguese sailors, the first record of white men in Mindanao.

1521. - Magellan "discovers" the Philippines.
1522. - Death of Barbosa and thirty-five men in Mindanao. One of the first combats between white men and the Moros.

1574. - Death of Rajah Soliman in the defense of the cotta of Lusong against Goiti. The battle broke the Mohammedan power in the northern islands of the Philippines.

1578. - De Sande and Figuroea take the first official Spanish expedition to Mindanao and Sulu.

1596. - Death of Figuroea in Mindanao.

1600. - Great Moro raid on Ilo-Ilo, resutling in the death of the Spanish Governor and the looting of the town.

1636. - Defeat of Tagal at Puenta Flecha.
1637. - Corcuera defeats Correlat in Cotobato.

1663. - Tremendous pirate raids in the northern islands.

1751. - Imprisonment of the Sultan Alimud Din by the Spaniards.

1775. - Massacre of the British trading post by the Moros under Datu Tating. This massacre resulted in the withdrawal of the British from the Moro country.

1840. - The Moros engage the French on Basilan island.

1848. - Balanguingue Island, the great Samal pirate stronghold, destroyed by steam warships under Claveria.

1876. - Jolo permanently occupied by the Spanish army.

1899. - Beginning of the wars with the United States.

1903. - Cotta warfare against the American troops.

1906. - Battle of Bud Dajo. One thousand Moros slain

1909. - Death of Jikiri on Patian Island.
1910. - Second battle of Bud Dajo.

1913. - Battle of Bud Bagsak. End of the organized Moro resistance to the United States.

1916. - the Moros disarmed and the last of the outlaws rounded up.

Sultan - Highest religious and political authority.

Wazir - Prime minister.

Datu - Provincial adviser or tribal leader. War chief.

Panglima - Judge.

Maharajah - Various grades, equivalent to military ranks of Colonel, Major, etc.

Imam - Secondary priest.

Pandita -Head priest.

Salip - A title of respect.

Hadji - One who has made the pilgrimage to Mecca.

The total fighting force of the Moros at the close of the Spanish-American War appears to have been about 34,000 warriors. This total was made up of 19,000 in Mindanao, 10,000 in Sulu and about 5,000 on Basilan Island.

The total Moro population of the Philippines was about 380,000. Due to the absence of birth statistics among Mohammedans, any population figure can only be an estimate. A considerable percentage of the population of Sulu was transient, moving from Sulu to Borneo according to their desires.

As mentioned in the text, the number of troops in the Colony was originally established at 400 men-at-arms, divided into six companies with monthly pay as follows: Captain $35; Sub-lieutenant $20; Sergeant $10; Corporal $7; Rank and file $6.

The first regular military organization occurred during the government of Arandia in 1754, when the Regimiento del Rey, composed of twenty companies, was formed. The Spanish company was made up as follows:

One Captain $25.00 per month

One Lieutenant $18.00 per month

One Sub-lieutenant $14.00 per month

Four Sergeants $ 4.00 per month

Two Drummers $ 3.00 per month

Six First Corporals $ 3.25 per month

Six Second Corporals $ 3.00 per month

Eighty-eight Rank and File $2.62 per month

In addition, the soldiers received an allowance of one and one-half pints of rice daily.

The pay of the higher officers was as follows:

Captain-General $ 40,000 per annum

Lieutenant-General $ 12,000 per annum

Brigadier-General $ 4,500 per annum

Colonel $ 3,450 per annum

Lieutenant-Colonel $ 2,700 per annum

Major $ 2,400 per annum

There were in the Philippines in 1888, 1 Captain-General, 1 Lieutenant-General, 9 Brigadier-Generals, 19 Colonels, 36 Lieutenant-Colonels, 73 Majors, 191 Captains, 262 Lieutenants, and 220 Sub-Lieutenants.

Spanish regulations provided for the payment of free passage to an officer to Spain after six years' service, if he was married. After nine year's service, he was obliged to return to Spain for three years before resuming tropic service.

San Ramon Penitentiary garrisoned by an officer and 12 men.

Santa Maria Block House with 1 officer and 34 men.

Margo-sa Tubig 2 officers and 60 men.

Fort Weyler 15 officers and 640 men.

Iligan 1 officer and 30 men.

Almonte 3 officers and 90 men.

Alfonso XIII 1 officer and 20 men.

Balatacan 1 officer and 20 men.

Tucuran 1 officer and 50 men.

Infanta Isabela 1 officer and 50 men.

Maria Cristina 1 officer and 50 men.

Sundangan 1 officer and 35 men.

Parang-Parang 10 officers and 640 men.

Matabang 3 officers and 210 men.

Baras 3 officers and 210 men.

Glan 2 officers and 45 men.

Makar I officer and 30 men.

Balut 1 officer and 30 men.

Tumanao 1 officer and 15 men.

Cotobato 4 officers and 112 men.

Libungan 1 officer and 12 men.

Tamontaca 1 officer and 20 men.

Taviran 1 officer and 20 men.

Tumbao 1 officer and 30 men.

Kudaranga 1 officer and 60 men.

Reina Regente 3 officers and 100 men.

Pikit 1 officer and 135 men,

Pinto 1 officer and 66 men.

Pollok 1 officer and 11 men.

Panay 1 officer and 11 men.

Lebak 1 officer and 11 men.

Zamobanga 11 officers and about 200 men in the permanent garrison. Staff headquarters for the south.

Isabela 2 officers and 50 men.

Jolo The usual garrison was about 8 officers and 200 men.

Parang 1 officer and 30 men.

Bongao 1 officer and 30 men.

Tataan 2 officers and 60 men.

Siasi 1 officer and 30 men.

The Spanish military organization changed from time to time, and for that reason various posts mentioned in the text are not included here as circumstances caused abandonment prior to the opening of the Spanish-American War.

In 1757, there were 16 fortified posts in the Moro country, but this number was greatly increased later in the conflict.

In general, the Spaniards were confined closely to these posts, making no attempt to subjugate the inner country and having jurisdiction often over only the actual area encompassed by the stone walls of the fort.

Puerto Princesa - Gunboat station garrisoned by 30 marines in addition to ship's crews.

Balabac - Gunboat station garrisoned by 22 marines in addition to ship's crews.

Isabela - Naval headquarters for the south. Garrisoned by 30 marines 27 sailors in addition to ship's crews.

Rio-Hondo - A Small station was maintained in connection with the fortress of Nuestra Senora del Pilar.

Pollok - Spanish naval supply and repair station.

There were two brigades of marine infantry in the Philippines, composed of 375 men and 18 officers. Most of this force, including the 18 war vessels in Philippine waters, were used at one time or another, the suppression of Moro piracy. The naval expenditure in the later period of Spanish occupancy amounted to more than $2,500,000 per year.

This mighty for was the strongest post in the southern islands and was a bulwark against the Moro raids. In all of its history, it was never taken by assault. The fortress was originally conceived in 1635, abandoned in 1663 and rebuilt in 1718. From that date it was continuously a Spanish post until December, 1899. Del Pilar was headquarters for the Spanish army in the south and in 1860 was garrisoned by eleven Companies of the regiments Rey and Reina. From this post, the detachments of Balabac, Isabela and Pollok were covered.

In the early days, Zamboanga was a concentration point for the sick of all stations, where they were treated at the hospital within the walls of the fort. Hospital records for the year 1856 show the entry during the year of 543 Sergeants, 14,756 soldiers and 3131 prisoners. In the year 1859, these figures increased to 862 Sergeants, 34,732 soldiers and 5535 prisoners. Many of these were second entries of the same patient.

The average actual garrison of the post was about 200 men. Native forces were used to patrol the streets at night, making their report to Spanish sentries on the walls of the fortress.

America took over the fort in 1899, changing the name of station to Petit Barracks. It is at present United States army headquarters for the south, and many of our greatest soldiers have commanded the post.

American commanding officer of Petit Barracks have been:

Major Petit 1900 - 1902

General Bliss 1902 - 1905

General Wood 1905 - 1910

General Pershing 1910 - 1911

Major Chamberlain 1911 - 1914

Major Beebe 1914 - 1918

Captain Stoneburn 1918 - 1919

Lt. Col. Well 1919 - 1920

Lt. Col. Fletcher 1920 - 1930

Lt. Col. Hoffman 1930 - 1931

Lt. Col. Grier 1931 - 1933

Major Philoon 1933 -

The Moros are divided into a number of tribal groups all differing slightly in customs, traditions and dress. Practically all of them agree in professing the Mohammedan religion, although two minor tribes, namely the Bajaos and the Yakans, still contain great numbers of pagans. The main tribal divisions are as follows:

Maguindanaos - This tribe is found in the Cotobato Province to a number approximating 100,000.

Lanaos - A tribe from interior Mindanao in the region of the lake of the same name. They are among the fiercest of the tribes and their country was barely known to the Spaniards. They number some 75,000.

Sangils - A small and unimportant tribe which is greatly diluted with pagan blood. They are found in the Davao Province and number a few hundred only.

Yakans - A tribe of mountain Moros, many of whom are pagans. About 20,000 of them are found on the Island of Basilan, fifteen miles from Zamboanga. They are famous for the excellence of their outrigger canoes or vintas and they supply many of the other Moro tribes with these vessels.

Sulus or Tao-sugs - The most important of the Moro tribes. They live on the islands of Jolo, Pata, Patian, Lugus and Tapal.

Samals - The fishermen tribe. They are expert mariners and navigators, and from this tribe was recruited the terrible pirate clan which terrorized the islands.

Bajaos - the "sea gypsies" who seldom set their feet on the land. They spend their lives in their small vintas and rove the entire Sulu group. The Bajaos are looked down upon by the other tribes because of their filthy habits and manner of living. The Bajaos are not Mohammedans.

The ninth month of the Mohammedan year, called Ramadan, begins on august 26 and ends on September 24. From dawn until dark the Mohammedans are enjoined to abstain from food and drink or from any act producing a pleasant sensation. "Only when the darkness of night advances from the west and the day departs from the east" can the devout break their fast. Eating and drinking is permitted during the entire night until "one can discern a white thread from a black thread by daylight."

The name of the month is derived from the Arabic word meaning to burn. The month fast is designed to burn away the sins of man. The Mohammedans say that during the month of Ramadan the "Gates of Paradise are open and the gates of Hell are shut with the devil chained by the leg."

Many additional prayers are prescribed for the Ramadan. The Moros say that on the Night of Power, the 17^th , when the Koran was delivered to Gabriel, the trees bow in homage to Mecca.

In order to prepare a morning meal, it is necessary for the devout to arise at three o'clock in the morning. As the month wears along, tempers fray and it is during the Ramadan fast that a great many amuks and juramentados appear.

The Mohammedan months are lunar with the result that their year is eleven days shorter than the Gregorian year and each year begins much earlier than the preceding one. The months of the Mohammedan year are: 1. Muharram; 2. Safar; 3. Rabia I; 4. Rabia II; Jumada; 6. Jumada II; 7. Rajab; 8. Shabon; 9. Ramadan; 10. Shawwal; 11. Zu'lkadah; 12. Zu'lhijjah.

The days of the week are: Isnin (Monday), Salasa, Albaa, Hammis, Duimaat, Sabtu and Ahad. Duimaat or Friday, is the day for attending the mosque.

Originally, the American posts approximated the Spanish posts taken over. As time went on, many of the Spanish posts were abandoned as America fought an offensive war against the Moros. America did maintain the principal Sulu posts of Jolo, Bungao and Siasi as well as ten strong posts in Mindanao, until the opening of the Great War in 1917.

The first American treaty with the Moros was signed, not by General Bates in 1899, but by Admiral Charles Wilkins of the United States navy as early as 1838. This treaty with the Sultan of Sulu provided permission to trade with the Moros and guaranteed protection of American ships. The treaty provided for the return of wrecked crews to the nearest Spanish settlement.

American soldiers, witnessing a Moro execution, wrote as follows: "We saw a sight we shall never forget. The Moros killed eleven of their countrymen with barongs and every person in the crowd got one blow at them. They were chopped into very small pieces for the crime of stealing fish."

Many historical authorities state that the present Sultan of Sulu is descended from a Spanish woman who was captured and removed to the harem of the present Sultan's father.

Amuks still occasionally run the streets of Zamboanga and Jolo. The writer recalls several occasions when individuals were killed on the streets of Zamboanga during the period 1926-1933. On November 19, 1933, Lieutenant Esculto of the Philippine Constabulary was killed near Jolo by Moros who ambushed the patrol of soldiers. Lieutenant Barbejera had been killed a few months previously, on September 6, 1933. During the year 1933, three Lieutenants of the Constabulary met their deaths in Jolo. It was believed by the authorities that the son of Jikiri, the famous outlaw killed in 1909, was involved in the recent trouble in Jolo which resulted in the death of Barbejera.

Asura, the tenth day of Muharram, is the anniversary of the last day of the deluge. Jonah was freed from the whale on this day.

Maulud, the twelfth day of Rabia I, is the birthday of Mohammed and corresponds to our Christmas.

Murad, the twenty-seventh day of Rajab, marks the day on which the Prophet ascended to Paradise.

Halilaya Puasa, the twenty-first day of Shawwal, is the day for breaking the Fast of the Ramadan. It ushers the three-day festival culminating with the end of Ramadan on September 24. Prayers are said in mosques by the men, ceremonial betel-nut is thrown on the floor and food is sent to friends.

Prince Sanfaluna, seventeen years of age, was received by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1907. The Prince wore a yellow jacket and tight white trouser, with a red sash over his shoulder supporting a large gold badge of his office as headman of the Moros of Mindanao. With an interpreter in pink and a slave in blue, the Prince called to present the President with a kris which had been in family 280 years. The kris had been the property of Datu Ali, who had been a terror to the American government until shot down. Prince Sanfaluna traced his ancestry to Mohammed.

The Moros had several interesting methods of poisoning fish in a manner which left the flesh edible. Among these methods was the use of a large breadfruit-like bulb, called by the Moros Bo-Bo, which was cut and mixed with lime. After standing in the lime solution for an hour or more, the mixture was placed in the water. In a few minutes, the fish would settle to the bottom where they could be removed with the hands.

Another method was with the use of a root called toobly which was macerated and thrown into the water. The juice of the toobly quickly stupefied the fish and they floated to the surface.

A third method involved the use of a berry (anamirta cocculus L.) which was crushed to a powder, wrapped with leaves and thrown into the water.

In the maritime customs of the Moros are found several parallels to the beliefs of the Vikings. Among them may be mentioned the practice f launching a ship on the body of a captive slave in the belief that good fortune was thus assured the vessel on her maiden voyage.

In the text will be found may references to Moros styling themselves "sultans". Strictly speaking, there were but two Sultans in the Philippines, namely, the Sultans of Mindanao and Sulu. There were, however, some thirty-two minor potentates who usurped the title Sultan, as they held forth a territory larger than that ordinarily controlled by a Datu. The two actual Sultans were descendants of a long line of royalty, originating in Borneo and Arabia. The present Sultan of Sulu is the twenty-fifth in line of descent and the Sultan of Mindanao is the twenty-first.

Filipiniana Reprint Series © 1985 Cacho Hermanos, Inc.

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