visitor
which warned me of danger. I put him off without saying anything
definite and made inquiries from some of the local religious leaders
who had the islands' Who's Who in their heads; and I was
assured that the party was absolutely trustworthy. But long after I
heard what would have been my fate if I had ventured on that trip. I
and my party were to have been disposed of in a manner which would have
provoked no suspicion and my gold distributed among the nest of
cutthroats.
No
sooner had I forgotten this particular client than the Moros on the
Island of Jolo, the hill-folk, became restless again, and it was
reported that they had been seen bringing out their old bronze lantaker
guns, furbishing their rusty lances and sharpening their bolos. Tales
of their doings were continually brought in by friendly Moros, and by
the general run of Government informers.
The
hill-folk's grievance this time was the payment of one peso for each
male over sixteen years of age: the poll-tax. This was the only tax
they were required to pay, and in return for it the Government gave
them roads, lighthouses, patrolled the seas, guarded the coasts,
established hospitals and promised schools. But the hill-people said
they wanted none of these, any more than their fathers had done, and a
peso was a peso. Moreover, the Koran laid it down and their Imams
preached that tribute could not be paid to the unbeliever, and as the
United States Government did not believe in their Prophet they would
sooner fight and all be killed.
The
cavalry was on the spot and the infantry was brought in swift launches
from other parts of the islands. One moonless night the mules and the
packers moved out of the city gates with all the available troops, and
we in Jolo were left with only the sentries and the military hospital
nurses for garrison. Throughout the long dark silent nights we watched
and prayed and watched again.
From
the distant hills came frequently the booming call and answer of the
great bronze gongs, which, miles apart, spoke one to another, voicing
their hatred of the infidel; and
