Studies in Moro History, Law, and ReligionSaleeby, Najeeb M. (Najeeb Mitry)
History
Studies in Moro History, Law, and Religion
Saleeby, Najeeb M. (Najeeb Mitry)
Law -- Philippines; Mindanao Island (Philippines) -- History; Muslims -- Philippines
The early Magindanao records give the impression that the arrival of
Kabungsuwan and the conversion of the people of Magindanao to Islam
were accomplished peaceably. The word Samal is never mentioned and the
Samals are always considered as aliens in every respect. The Samals
seem never to have settled in Magindanao itself, but they did settle
for some time on the Island of Bongo or Bungud, that lies opposite the
mouth of the Pulangi, and at Batwan and Banago, near Malabang. From
these places they moved later to Sibugay and Sarangani and the Gulf
of Davao. Combés called the Samals Lutaw and said that they were in
the employ of Corralat, and manned some of his boats, fighting and
carrying on piracy side by side with the people of Magindanao and with
the Iranun. Summing up the preceding evidence, we can unhesitatingly
say that the Samals came to Magindanao with Kabungsuwan, but that
they did not settle on the soil of Magindanao, nor did they intermarry
sufficiently to assimilate with the Magindanao people.
The character of the conquest Kabungsuwan achieved and the bearing
it has on the admixture of races in Mindanao is therefore of special
interest. When Kabungsuwan arrived at the mouth of the Pulangi there
were on the neighboring soil of Magindanao the following settlements:
Slangan, Magindanao proper, Lusud, Matampay, Tagiman, and Katitwan. The
first and the last were probably the greatest and the strongest of
all, for they were the first to meet Kabungsuwan and interrupted his
advance at Tinundan. After some fighting they were evidently defeated
and retreated up the river. The people of Magindanao, under the
leadership of the brothers Tabunaway and Mamalu, came next, but their
attitude was not hostile. For some reason they secured an alliance
or agreement with Kabungsuwan and invited him to Magindanao. They
submitted to a form of Mohammedan baptism and to circumcision, and
towed Kabungsuwan's boat from that place up to Magindanao. Hence the
meaning of the word tinundan, the place of towing. The ceremony for
circumcision occurred at Katuri, the little settlement on the river
just opposite Cotabato; the baptism or washing occurred at Paygwan
at the mouth of the river. The word katuri means circumcision.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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