The people of the Philippines, their religious progress and preparation for spiritual leadership in the Far East,

THE MOROS MEET AMERICA

67

Moroland he spent several months in Borneo, Sumatra, Singapore, and Java, learning all he could from the Dutch and
English rulers and from the natives, about the prejudices and
habits of the Malay Moslems. When he did reach the Moros
he knew exactly what he meant to do. Every subordinate was
selected with the utmost care, and given careful instructions.
The entire force knew that they were on their good behavior.
When Wood first landed in Jolo, the Sultan was absent in
Borneo, but Raja Mudah was acting as sultan in his place.
General Wood sent the Raja a cordial invitation to come and
visit him. The Raja replied that he was ill. Wood sent a
company of soldiers to inquire after the Raja's health. They
stood at attention in front of the house while the Captain sent
the Raja word that he hoped he had recovered sufficiently to
go with them to see the General. As the Raja looked out of
his window he made a miraculously quick recovery and went
with the company. Wood conducted him about the camp,
pointing out the size and discipline of the American soldiers.
After a machine gun had mowed down a few trees, the Raja
became enthusiastically friendly.
Similar treatment proved effective among the other chieftains-until they were requested to free their slaves. Then
Datu Ali, the greatest of the Jolo chieftains, declared war and
shut himself and his warriors up in his bamboo fort-a more
formidable defense than it sounds. For some six feet above
the ground it was a tightly woven mass of roots and mud, six
or more feet in thickness, and above this the great, thorncovered, tightly interwoven bamboos rose to a height of thirty
or more feet. Such a fort grows stronger every year and is
simply impregnable by direct infantry or cavalry attack. With
modern field guns it is quite another matter. Wood, always
sparing of lives but profligate with ammunition, smothered
this Moro fort with artillery fire. The Datu Ali was killed.
Jolo offered little further trouble.
The last and most difficult of all the tribes in Moroland
were the Tarracas, at Lake Lanao. They were twenty-five
miles from the shore and had to be reached by a dangerous
mountain road. Unable to withstand the superior guns of the