The Moro problem; an academic discussion of the history and solution of the problem of the government of the Moros of the Phillipine Islands, by Najeeb M. Saleeby ...

tained great hopes. Governor Arolas felt that the cause of Spanish
sovereignty was amply vindicated and Spanish honor strongly and
proudly upheld. But as early as the 9th of May, 1887, two or three
months after the battle of Maymbung, another fight stared him in
the face. Arolas and Sultan Harun had to march against Parang
and invest the kuta (fort) of Panglima Damang. After the surrender
of Damang an expedition was sent to Lati and another to Tapul
Island. This latter campaign was extremely difficult and trying. The
country was rough, the forest thick, and the enemy fierce. Panglima
Sayadi did not recognize Harun's sultanate and did not obey the mandates of the governor of Sulu, so his chastisement was decreed and
Tapul was attacked. Sayadi and his men fought like tigers at bay,
and Governor Arolas was compelled to lead his troops in person.
Sayadi was defeated after two days fighting, 90 of his men were killed. and the fort was demolished. The Spanish casualties were 13
dead and 155 wounded.
On the 29th of July, Pangyan Inchi Jamila presented herself
at Jolo and expressed her submission and that of her son, Raja Muda
Amirul Kiram, to the governor of Sulu and to Sultan Harun. Governor Arolas insisted that Amirul Kiram should come in person and
express his surrender, and allowed him ten days in which he could
come in with safety and impunity. After her return Pangyan Inchi
Jamila sent Sultan Harun the seal of the sultanate, but neither the
chiefs nor Amirul Kiram agreed to the personal surrenderrequested.
Governor Arolas was disposed to make Spanish sovereignty over
Sulu a fact, absolute and complete, and required implicit obedience.
The Sulus had a different view of the respective rights of the two
governments and continued their resistance.
Another campaign was necessary on Siasi Island, and Datu
Hiyang and many Moros were killed. Another expedition was directed against Kadungdung and southern Lu'uk and another
against the Island of Pata. Innumerable hardships were sustained
by the Spanish troops and many Moros were killed. Sultan Harun
and his forces cooperated with the Spanish forces and reconnoitered
inaccessible places. The partisans of the young Raja Muda Amirul
Kiram were supposed to have been completely vanquished and the
young prince was expected to humiliate himself before Sultan Harun
at any time. Such hopes were, however, false, for on October 30,
Bwal and the northern Lu'uk district had to be reckoned with. After
some fighting the Sulus evacuated Bwal and fled to the mountains
and 53 houses were reduced to ashes. Nor was this sufficient, forin
1888 expeditions amounting in some cases to 1,500 troops, comprising from two to four companies of artillery, were conducted against
the following districts of Sulu Island:-Purul, Tambang, Patikul,
Taglibi, Buhanginan, Pandan, Sari'ul, and Pigi-Dahu. Hundreds
and probably thousands of Sulus were killed, but notwithstanding
that, Arolas's cruel efforts to force Sultan Harun upon the people
resulted in failure. The Sulus scorned Sultan Harun and his apparent supremacy, persisted in their resistance, and kept their allegiance to Amirul Kiram. True to their traditions they remained
faithful to the candidate whose right to the succession was in their
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