The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume 43, 1670-1700: Explorations by early navigators, descriptions of the islands and their peoples, their history and records of the Catholic missions, as related in contemporaneous books and manuscripts, showing the political, economic, commercial and religious conditions of those islands from their earliest relations with European nations to the close of the nineteenth century
History
The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume 43, 1670-1700: Explorations by early navigators, descriptions of the islands and their peoples, their history and records of the Catholic missions, as related in contemporaneous books and manuscripts, showing the political, economic, commercial and religious conditions of those islands from their earliest relations with European nations to the close of the nineteenth century
Demarcation line of Alexander VI; Missions -- Philippines; Philippines -- Discovery and exploration; Philippines -- History -- Sources
Spanish authorities in giving titles as captains and lieutenants
to Christians makes such persons the real datos of the island and
weakens the hereditary allegiance. The remnants of the Moros about
Dávao ask for villages, but it is only pretense, in order that they
may continue to live under their old customs, and so that the datos
may not lose the few followers left to them. It is advised that the
people be encouraged to desert their datos and panditas, and that
all the Moros be assembled into one village. The many small villages
of the Moros, each with its dato and pandita, are an obstacle to the
reduction and conversion of the heathens.
The letter written by Father Pablo Cavalleria to Father Francisco
Sanchez from Isabela de Basílan in the island of Basílan, December 31,
1886, gives a great deal of most important information regarding the
Moros of that island. The native race is evidently fewer in number
than the Moros (who number ten or twelve thousand), and is partially
christianized. The Moros inhabit the coast and the interior, the former
being known as Sámal Laút, who are fishermen, and the latter as Yacans,
who are agriculturists. They are hostile to each other. With the Sámal
Laút are mingled also Joloans and Malays. Personal descriptions of
the Moros, their mental characteristics, their religion, marriage and
mortuary customs, etc., are given. Their chief feast is the celebration
of the birth of Mahomet, though that date is not fixed but depends
rather on when there is sufficient food for a good feast. They are
superstitious, and perform various superstitious rites. They have seven
heavens and seven hells, each with its distinctive signification. Their
method of fighting is described. Their hatred toward the Christians
is well shown in a native song quoted by Father Cavalleria.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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