The Subanuns of Sindangan Bay: by Emerson Brewer Christie.

28

THE SUBANJUNS OF SINDANGAN BAY

to an agent of the Spanish Government, and finally, during the interregnum between the Spanish evacuation and the organization of the
Moro Province, to Datu Mandi of Zamboanga
The Moros levied the tax and compelled the trading beause their
superior organization and their command of the sea gave them the power
and they needed the revenue, but they justified themselves by quoting the
passages of the Koran authorizing the believer to levy on the infidel.
FIRST ARRIVAL OF THE 310ROS
There are a number of accounts handed down by tradition among
the Subanus which differ in certain details regarding the first arrival
of the Mohammedans in the Submlun country, and the origin of the
payment of tribute by the Subanuns to tlem. The following version,
given to me by the old Subanun headman of Patawak, just west of
Sindangan Bay, antd forming part of tlle same culture area, may be of
interest:
"The former iame of Zamboanga was Nawan. There were in old times no
Spaniards or Mors. Thel Moro first eame in the time of the Subianun chief
Tubunawai, before thle Spaniards cae. Tubunaiwai was a giant, but his brothers
and the rest of his famig l were of ordinary size. Tubunawai's spearhead was
a fathom long and as larg as a small tree, and the shaft was as thick as a
man's thigh. lHis chest measured seven palms in breadth. He could sling
the loads of fi:tyv en on his spear and walk off without feeling it, or carry
fifty cooked pigs on a platter. In those days there were no people in Sulu, Bsilan
or in the Gikwan (Sindangn) or Lanau districts. Tubunawai was a great
hunter of wild pigs. He had a hunting lodge on I^ke Lanau, another on Sibugai
Bay, and a third on the Gikwan (Sindanlgan) River. He hunted the pigs with
dogs. When he wished to go to Nawan fron any one of his hunting stations
he could make the journey in one day. Tubuiawai was chief of all the Subanuns
there were at that time. Thev lived at Nawxan, not on the shore, where the
town of Zaniboanga now is, but on the hillsides above. They- feled the big
trees and planted rice Itween the stumps.
"At this time there were two brothers in Meca, Assam and Salingaya, Bungsu."
These brothers were riclh, a sailed about looking for advetures., One day they
arrived in Sulu. From t:here they eould see a string of islands and finally they
found that there was a big island to the north. One day- Assa-he eder —nd
Salinga.a Bungsu decided to see who was the better sailor and had the finer
boat, by starting out:togetier at dawn for the great island -tothe, north, and
seeing -who would get there first. The first to arrie was to ha ttheisla:tid as
start, had cut the rudder aid the oar of his:master's sip narly th. So
after both weri well in the open, Assam'a r dder and his oarsbrke. Saligaya
Bungsu siled on, but missing his brother, me back tsee what:was thematter.

Assam pointed to the broken rudder sad oars. 'I can not goon,'.he said, 'I must
make for tae nearest land.' It was the: island kno today as Balabak.,- Bungsu is a Malay word meaning younger brother,
[28]

i

_::4-:~;:r:::