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

16 SULU ARCHIPELAGO AND ITS PEOPLE

A Moro craftsman inlaying silver on brass.

throughout the province. The products include water
craft such as vintas, sapits, and lipas; and salt, rope,
fish nets, mats, whips, earthenware, roofing tiles, fish
lines, fish spears, bolos, barongs, jewelry, boat canopies,
hats, rough boards, and sugar. Definite figures as to the
value of articles manufactured are not available, but
roughly they may be estimated at a240,000 a year
($120,000).
Sugar production has increased greatly within recent
years. Not long ago more than fifteen mills were observed in active operation in the eastern part of the
island of Jolo alone. The Lati coast country of Jolo is
likewise growing more sugar than it did formerly, and
native crude mills have been built at various places.
The Samal people of the Tawi-Tawi Group are the
chief builders of boats, the main centers for the work
being at Balimbing,:Manubol, and Banaran. The large
cargo boat (sapit), the passenger boat (lipa), and the
general utility boat (vinta) are built at these places.
Many boats, particularly vintas, are built in the rough at