Sultan Israel was poisoned in 1778 by his cousin Alimud Din II,
the son of Bantilan. During the reign of Sultan Alimud Din II, hos-
tilities between Sulus and Spaniards increased, and for the period of ten
years or more traffic between Luzon and the southern islands was para-
lyzed. About 500 Spanish and native Christians were every year carried
into captivity by the Moros. The government was greatly exercised
over this grave situation, and in 1789 the Captain-General Mariquina
reported to the King that "war with the Moros was an evil without
remedy."
In the latter part of 1789 Sharapud Din, the son of Alimud Din I,
ascended the throne of Sulu. Wliile a youth he was imprisoned with
liis father in Zamboanga and accompanied the latter to Manila. Very
little is known of his reign except that he was animated by the same
spirit and principles which cliaracterized his father's reign and that of
Ins brother Israel. He coined money, and one of his coins which was
obtained i']-om Jolo beai*s the date 1204 A. II., which was probably the
date of his succession. Sultan Sharapud Din was followed by his sons
Alimud Din III and Aliyud Din I.
Tlie continued presence of the Moros in Mindoro, where they haunted the bays
and rivers of both east and west coasts for months at a time, stealing out from
this island for attack in every direction, was specially noted by Padre Znuiga,
and indicated how feebly the Spaniards repulsed these pirates a htindred years
ago.
It was the last severe phase of Malay piracy, when even the strong merchant
ships of England and America dreaded the Straits of Borneo and passed with
caution through the China Sea. Northern Borneo, the Sulu Archipelago, and
the southern coasts of Mindanao were the centers from which came these fierce
sea wolves, whose cruel exploits have left their many traditions in the American
and British merchant navies, just as they periodically appear in the chronicles
of the Philippines.
Five hundred captives annually seem to have been the spoils taken by these
Moros in the Philippine Islands, and as far south as Batavia and Macassar cap-
tive Filipinos were sold in the slave marts of the Malays. The aged and infirm
were inhumanly bartered to the savage tribes of Borneo, who offered them up
in their ceremonial sacrifices. The measures of the Spanish Government, though
constant and expensive, were ineffective. Between 1778 and 1793 a million and
a half of pesos were expended on the fleets and expeditions to drive back or
punish the Moros, but at the end of the century a veritable climax of piracy
was attained.
Pirates swarmed continually about the coasts of Mindoro, Burias, and Mas-
bate, and even frequented the esteros^ of Manila Bay. Some sort of peace seems
to have been established with Jolo and a friendly commerce was engaged in
toward the end of the century, but the Moros of Mindanao and Borneo were
increasing enemies. In 1798 a fleet of 25 Moro bancas passed up the Pacific
coast of Luzon and fell upon the isolated towns of Baler, Kasiguran, and Pala-
nan, destroying the pueblos and taking 450 captives. The cura' of Kasiguran
was ransomed in Binangonan for the sum of 2,500 pesos. For four years this
pirate fleet had its rendezvous on Burias, whence it raided the adjacent coasts
and Katanduan Island.*
Governor Agiiilar assumed command in 1793 and made every effort to
remedy this condition of affairs. He divided the Archipelago into six
divisions, each of which was provided with a fleet of six gunboats. He
repaired the forts of the Bisayas, Mindoro, Tayabas, Batangas, and
Zamboanga. While preparing for defence, lie negotiated with the Sulu
and Mindanao Moros for peace and partially succeeded in establishing
a condition of truce with Sulu.
In 1798 he convened a council to consider further measures for the
suppression of piracy. All records pertaining to Moro affairs were sub-
mitted to Eufino Suarez, "Asesor del Gobiemo," who was directed to
report on this subject. The report was rendered in April, 1800, and
contained full information and recommendations as to the best measures
and methods that the government could undertake for that purpose.
Aguilar, however, did not act on the ret'ommendations of Suarez, but
continued his negotiations with the Moros who became peaceful and
remained so until 1803. In this year the English attacked Zamboanga
unsuccessfully, instigated hostility between Sulu and Spain, and re-
occupied the Island of Balambangan, which they held for three years
only.
In 1805 a treaty was made between Sulu and Spain whereby it was
agreed that no foreign resident would be permitted in Sulu without the
consent of the Spanish Government, and that in case of war between
Spain and any foreign country, the Sultan's ports would be closed against
Spain's enemies. Between 1805 and 1815 detailed accounts of piratical
raids are infrequent.
Sultan Aliyud Din died in 1808 and was succeeded by his pious
brother Shakirul Lah. It is related that Shakirul Lah slept on boards
and covered himself with sarongs only. He used to leave his home at
night, search for the poor and needy and feed them.
In 1815, the raiders took 1,000 native prisoners and captured several
Spanish, British, and Dutch vessels. In October, 1818, a Spanish fleet
under Pedro Esteban encountered 25 Moro vessels in the vicinity of
Albay, seized nine of them and sank the rest.
Sultan Shakirul Lah was succeeded in 1823 by Sultan Jamalul Kiram
I, the son of Alimud Din III. In tlie same year. Governor Antonio
Martinez, impressed by the superior policy and success of Corcuera,
organized an expedition under Alonso Morgado and attacked the pirates
in their home lairs, at Basilan, Pilas, Sulu, and Mindanao. Tlie
Spanish fleet consisted of 2 schooners, 4 gunboats, 6 tenders, 2 junks,
and 1 transport schooner. The expedition reached Pilas in March, 1825,
took the fort by assault and killed 50 Moros. At Jolo it cannonaded
the town for ten hours and then left for Mindanao, where it inflicted
considerable damage. It destroyed Moro boats at Illana Bay, Pollok,
and Dumankilis Bay.
General Ricafort sent another expedition, in 1827, to Jolo, consisting
of 20 vessels and 500 troops; but Jolo was so well fortified and the
Moro forces so numerous that the Spanish soldiers could not disembark,
and the expedition returned without accomplishing any results.
The seal of Sultan Jamalul Kiram I bears the date 1239 A. H., or
about 1823 A. D., which in all probability indicates the year of his succes-
sion. He issued regular appointment forms for his subordinate officers of
state and dated his communications, using the current Malay and Moliam-
medan dates combined. In the estimation of the Sulus he was a strong
and ver}' prosperous sultan.
On the 23d of Septeml)er, 1836 A. D. or 1252 A. 11., he signed a
commercial treaty with Capt. Jose M. Ilalcon as tlie representative of
Captain-General Salazar.^ The principal part of the treaty was an
agreement regulating boat licenses and tlie duties to be paid by Sulu
boats in Manila and Zamboanga and by Spanish vessels in Jolo. In
another document bearing the same date and signed by the same parties,
an alliance was declared guaranteeing general peace and safety to Sulu
boats in Philippine waters and to Spanish and Filipino craft in the
Sulu Sea. The sultan further consented to have a Spanish trading
house constructed at Jolo for the safe storage of merchandise under tlie
charge of a Spanisli resident agent.
