The following excerpt is from the very well known book,"The History of Sulu"by Najeeb Mitry Saleeby (Manila:Bureau of Printing) (1908).When Dr.Saleeby wrote this seminal volume,in 1906 (published in 1908) Basilan,Sulu and Tawi Tawi were all part of a unitary administrative unit that the Americans so creatively labeled,"Moro Province"(Muslim Province).Saleeby was a Maronite Christian born in what is now Lebanon but was then,in 1870,part of the Ottoman Empire.He emigrated to the United States and by 1897 had received his medical degree from Bellvue.Like so many young men he had a bit of wander lust,combining this penchant for adventure with the need for stable employment he accepted a position in Manila with the colonial administration.Assigned to perform an ethnographic survey he ended up attracted to Tausug Culture and to a lesser extent Filipino Muslims in general.
Chapter I: Geographical Description of the Sulu Archipelago:
The Sulu Archipelago is a series of small volcanic islands which extends in a northeast and southwest direction between the meridians of 119•10'and 122•25'east,and the parallels of 4•30'and 6•50'north.It forms a continuous chain of islands,islets,and coral reefs,which connects the peninsula of Zamboanga with the northeastern extremity of Borneo and separates the Sulu Sea from the Celebes Sea.It marks the southern line of communication between the Philippine Islands and Borneo and is probably the chief route of former emigrations and travel from Borneo to Mindanao and the southern Bisayan Islands (VISAYAN REGION OF THE PHILIPPINES).
The islands of the Archipelago are so disposed as to form several smaller groups,the most important of which are the following:The Basilan Group (NOW SPLIT BETWEEN 4 PROVINCES:BASILAN,ZAMBONGA DEL NORTE,ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY,AND ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR),the Balangingi or Samal Group,the Sulu Group,the Pangutaran Group,the Tapul or Siasi Group,and the Tawi Tawi Group (TODAY A SEPARATE PROVINCE).
The Basilan Group is the first on the north and includes the Island of Basilan and fifty-six small adjacent islands,all of which lie north of the parallel of 6•15'north and east of the meridian of 121•19'east.This group,under the name of Basilan,constituted the sixth district of the politico-military government of Mindanao,organized by the Spanish Government in 1861.Since that date the islands forming this group have not been recognized politically as a part of the Sulu Archipelago.
Basilan is the largest island in the Archipelago.Its northernmost point is about 10 miles directly south of Zamboanga.The island is more or less circular in outline and has a radius approximately 11 miles long.Its area is about 400 square miles.Two prominent headlands projecting,one on the east and one on the west,give the island a maximum length of 36 miles.The greatest width,north and south,is 24 miles.The eastern headland is long and has a picturesque,conical peak,called Mount Matangal,which rises about 648 meters above sea level.This peak is a very prominent landmark,visible to a great distance from all points in the Celebes Sea and in the Straits of the Celebes Sea and in the Straits of Basilan.The western headland is less prominent.It has an isolated peak about 287 meters above the sea,immediately north of the settlement of Pangasa'an.The position of this peak makes it a conspicuous landmark to vessels entering the Straits of Basilan from the Sulu Sea.
The surface of the island is high and hilly.Twenty-three peaks are recognized,forming two distinct series of ranges,central and peripheral.The central regiom of the island is an elevated tableland,out of which rise a number of peaks forming the central series and ranging from 609 to 1,019 meters above sea level.A thick forest covers this region.The rivers are small and dry up in the dry season.Few Yakans (INDIGINOUS TRIBE) are to be found there,and their houses are isolated and far apart.No cultivation is carried on in the interior.On the outside of this region rises the peripheral series of hills or peaks which lie parallel and near to the coast.With the exception of the two,all of these peaks are below 304 meters in height.The drop from this line of hills to the coast is rapid in some places,and in general the shoreline is low and swampy and covered with mangrove trees.The three largest valleys in the island are those of Gubawan or Lamitan on the northeast,Kumalarang on the northwest,and Malusu on the west.The region is generally considered fertile,but it has a marked dry season and droughts are not rare.
The island is very rich in timber;all its hills and mountains are forest-clad to their summits.Excellent boats are constructed on the south and west coasts of the island which rival the Tawi Tawi boats in every particular.A few Americans have started hemp and coconut plantations on the north coast,but native cultivation is not extensive and compares very poorly with that of the Islands of Sulu (JOLO),Tapul,and Siasi.Most of the cultivation on the island is carried on by Yakans,the Samals living chiefly on the products of the sea.The staple products of the soil are rice,tapioca,and corn.Ubi (a kind of tuber as food) (PURPLE SWEET POTATOE,SPELLED LOCALLY AS"UBE"),camotes (sweet potaoes),and wild fruits abound.The number of cattle is not inconsiderable (HE IS RERRING TO CARABOA,WATER BUFFALO),but horses are few.Most of the settlements on the island are on the seacoast and lie on the north and the west coasts.The larger ones,beginning at Isabela,and going east,are,on the north,Isabela,Patasan or Balaktasan,Malu'ung,Nipa,Lamitan,Tagima,Kandi'is;on the east,Tambunan,Buhi-lubung,and Ubung;on the south,Amalwi,Giyung,and Mangal;on the west,Libuk,Kabkaban,Kanas,Malusu,and Pangasa'an;on the north,Bulansa,Atung-atung,Batanay,and Panigayan (NOT ON BASILAN BUT ON AN ISLET OF THE SAME NAME DIRECTLY OFF OF THE BASILAN COAST).The prominent chiefs on the island live at Lamitan,Ubung,and Malusu,which form the prnicipal centers of native power.The old name of Basilan was Tagima,so called after the name of the old settlement of Tagima mentioned above.
Isabela may be considered as the capitol of Basilan.Its old name is Pasangan,which is still the name of the stream at the mouth of which it is built.The town is situated 4 miles inland,on the narrow channel which separates Basilan from the small island of Malamawi.The channel widens a little at this point and forms an excellent harbor.Under Spanish jurisdiction it was a naval station with a drydock for gunboats.An aqueduct furnishes the town with fresh water brought from a small stream in the neighborhood.The stone fort Isabel II,built on the hill in 1842,commands both entrances of the channel.It was designed to defend the town against the Moros (MUSLIMS).The abandonment of the town as a naval station has led to its present decline.An American sawmill planted there has been the chief source of lumber supply for the town of Zamboanga and neighborhood.
The largest islands in this group,excepting Basilan,are Baluk-baluk and Pilas,both of which lie west of Basilan.A narrow channel which lies in the direct route leading from Zamboanga to Jolo separates these two islands.Tapiantana,Salupin,Bubwan,and Lanawan are the largest islands of the group south of Basilan.
The population of this whole group is generally estimated at 25,000.Of these,15,000 live in Basilan itself.The inhabitants of Basilan proper are Yakans and Samals,while the adjacent islands are occupied entirely by Samals.The Yakan are the aborigines of Basilan and extend further into the interior than the Samals.
Basilan never enjoyed political independence (ACTUALLY,SINCE PUBLICATION NEARLY 100 YEARS AGO CHINESE SOURCES HAVE SHOWN THAT INDEED THE ISLAND WAS ONCE AN INDEPENDENT KINGDOM IN THE PRE-ISLAMIC ERA).Before Spanish rule it was governed by Sulu datus and paid tribute to the Sultan of Sulu.Under the datus,subordinate Samal panglimas and maharajas had charge of the various communities or settlements.The Samals of Basilan are at present stronger than other Samals and enjoy a greater degree of liberty and self-government than their brothers in the Tawi Tawi Group.
The Balangingi Group lies east of the meridian 121•28'east and to the south of the Basilan Group.It has nineteen islands,the principal ones of which are Tonkil,Balangingi,Simisa,Tatalan,Bukutwa,Bim,Bangalaw.The islands of this group are small and low and do not exceed 38 square miles in area.Their inhabitants are Samals (THERE IS ANTHROPOLIGICAL DEBATE AS TO WHETHER THEY ARE SAMAL OR ACTUALLY A GROUP ONTO THEMSELVES.THE CONSENSUS IS THAT THEY WERE ON THE CUSP OF DISTINCTION UNTIL THE SPANISH NEARLY EXTERMINATED THE BULK OF THE POPULATION).The people of Balangingi and Tonkil were notorious pirates.They built strong forts and once surpassed all other Samals in power,political,organization,and prosperity.
The Jolo Group (CALLED SULU GROUP BY AUTHOR) which lies west of the Balangingi Group and north of the parallel of 5•46'north.Its western boundry may be sent [sic] at the meridian of 120•46' east.It consists of about twenty-nine islands with a total of 380 square miles.The principal island of this group is Sulu (JOLO,HENCEWORTH I WILL USE THE MODERN TERM JOLO SO AS NOT TO CONFUSE READERS).To the north of Jolo lie Pangasinan,Marongas,Kabukan,Bubwan,Minis,Hegad,and a few others;to the east lie Tulayan,Kapwal,and Bitinan;to the south,Pata and Patyan.
Tulayan lies north of Tandu and is separated from it by a narrow strait.It has a good harbor on the southern side.It was ceded to the English on 1763 by Sultan Alimud Din I (OF SULU) out of appreciation of the favor done in releasing him from prison in Manila and reinstating him as Sultan of Sulu.The English however,never made any use of the island.Pata is,next to Jolo,the largest island of the group.It is mountainous and well populated.The description of the island of Jolo is given separately at the end of this chapter.
The Panguturan Group lies west of the Jolo Group and north of the sixth parallel.It has fourteen islands and an area of 72 square miles.The principal members of the group are Panguturan,Pandukan,North Ubian,Laparan,and Tababas or Cap.They are all low and flat with little more than trees visible from the sea.They are surrounded by coral reefs and sand banks,which in places form lagoons which can be entered only at high water.The drinking water in these islands is brackish in the hot season and has a black color during rains.Very often people go as far as the Island of Jolo to get good water.Panguturan is the fifth island in the Archipelago in size,being 11 miles long,north and south,and 8 miles wide,from east to west,its chief settlement is Maglakub.Its northern and eastern coasts are the best populated.The inhabitants of this group are chiefly Samals;few Sulus (TAUSUGS) are found mixed with them.Coconut trees and tapioca plants grow well in places.
The Siasi Group lie to south and west of the Jolo Group,east of the meridian of 120•33'east,and north of the parallel of 5•24'north.It has thirty-eight islands with an aggregate area of 77 square miles.Its population is estimated at 20,000.The principal islands of this group are Siasi,Pandami,Lugus,Tapul,Laminusa,and Kabinga'an.The first four are volcanic islands of some size;the last two are low and flat.Tapul is the nearest island to the group of Jolo.It is more or less round in circumfrence and rises in the middle of a picturesque conical peak 505 meters above the sea.It is almost 5 miles in diameter and is separated from Lugus by a very narrow channel.The island is 8 miles south of Jolo Island,is well cultivated,and appears very attractive from the sea.It supports a considerable population and several fairly prosperous settlements.The people are mostly Tausugs;they are very warlike and take great pride in their traditions.
The chief settlement of this island is Kanawi,where lives Sharif [sic] Alawi,the strongest chief of the island.Buhabgin Hawpu,Pangpang,and Pagatpat all lie on the southern coast,east of Kanawi.The settlements on the western coast are,beginning at the south,Suba Pukul,Kawimpang,Tigbas,Banting,Kutabatu,Bagus;on the northern coast,Kawimpang,Pangdan,;on the eastern coast,Sampunay,Tulakan,.Lugus is the larger island.Its long diameter extends 9 miles east and west,and it has an area of 18 square miles.It is hilly and rough;but the northern shore is fairly well cultivated.
The chief settlements are on the western coast.They are Baabas,where Datu Amilusin used to live,and Bulipungpung.On the north lie,beginning at the east,Gapas,Ba'it-Ba'it,and Hawit,the place of Maharaja Sharafud Din;on the east Kalu'ukan,the residence of Panglima Salahud Din;on the south Aluduyung,and the Island of Munupunu.
Diasi and Pandami are separated by a narrow channel which forms a good anchorage for vessels.Siasi is prettier than Tapul in form and is larger,but not equally wooded.It has an isolated,conical,and beautiful peak in the center rising to 509 meters above sea level.The island is about 7 miles in diameter and has an area of 39 square miles.Reefs and numerous inlets form a fringe off the east and south coasts and these teem with Samal houses.It is thickly settled,fairly well cultivated,and has,in proportion to its size,a considerable number of horses and cattle.The majority of people are Samals,but the chief rulers and some of their retinue are Tausugs.In this respect this island follows the general rule governing all the larger islands of the Archipelago outside of Jolo Island.The town of Siasi is on the western side.It lies on the Pandami Channel and has a good harbor and a spring rising at the base of the western slope of the mountain supplies the town with fresh water.
A detachment of Spanish troops occupied the town in 1882 a built a stone fort and barracks.American troops were there from 1900 to 1904,when they were relieved by a detachment of the Philippine Constalbury.An effort was made in 1899 by the present sultan,Jamalul Kiram II,to retain Siasi under his own jurisdiction for the establishment of a custom-house (CUSTOMS INSPECTION STATION) where he could collect duties on foreign goods,as was formerly done by his father;but no such rights were conceeded to him.Siasi is a closed port at present.The residents of the town are Samals and Chinese traders.They vary from 500 to 700 in number.The other settlements on the island are,on the north,Siyundu,Pagatpat,and Manta;on the east,Pamungunan,Tanjun,Sipanding,and Bulikulul;on the south,Dugu Latung,and Musu;on the west,Nipanipa,Jambanganan,Dungus,and Sablay;in the interior,Kabubu,Ju,and Kungatad.Siasi and Laminusa are important centers of pearl and shell fishing.About 2,000 Samals live on Laminusa.
Pandami is an attractive island.Its long diameter runs north and south.Two round peaks,one at each end of the island,give it the shape of a saddle and make a picturesque sight from the sea.The people are chiefly Samals ruled by Tausug datus.Its best settlements are on the west and south.The name given to this island on Spanish maps is Lapak,which is the name of one of its southern settlements.The northern extremity of the island is Diadia Point,the northeast projection is Butun Point.The chief settlements on the west are,beginning at the north,Subasuba,Tabunan,Pari'an,Pandami,Tubig-shina,Lahi,and Sibaeud,which lies on a reef off the southern point of the island.On the east lie Ambilan,Bakal,and Lapak.Laminusa and Kabinga'an lie on the east of Siasi.They are small but thickly populated by Samals.The chief settlements of Laminusa are Tampan on the north and Kungkung on the south.
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I will conclude Chapter I (I know,I know,boring,but it does help to know the geography of the region as well as the place names used at that point in time).
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