The Sulu Archipelago and its people, by Sixto Y. Orosa ...

108 SULU ARCHIPELAGO AND ITS PEOPLE

Serrantes Street, a modern thoroughfare in Jolo.

was now recognized as sultan by the Spanish government (1894), and Hadji Butu once more became his
prime minister. In 1896 Hadji Butu accompanied the
sultan to Mecca, as the latter would not make the
pilgrimage to the sacred city without him. There they
stayed one year.
In May, 1899, a year after the return of the sultan's
party to Jolo, the Americans occupied the town. The
sultan was at the time in Siasi, and Hadji Butu,
representing the sultan and his people, concluded with
the American government the so-called "Bates Agreement." The main provisions of the agreement were
these: (1) The Moros were to recognize the American
flag; (2) the American government was not to interfere
with the religion and customs of the Moros; and (3) the
American government was not to give or sell Sulu or
any part of it to any other nation. The people did not
wish to come under American sovereignty; but Hadji