Jamalul A*lam died April 8, 1881, but before his death he caused
word to be sent to the governor of Sulu informing him that an attack
on Jolo was imminent. At 3 a. m. on the lOth, the Sulus issued from
the woods and made a general attack on the garrison, which resulted in
failure and in the loss of 103 Sulus, who fell dead in the ditches.
The garrison of Jolo amounted, at that time, to 27 othcers and 7o3
men. All that Colonel Rivera could do was to protcH.*t the plaza and
keep himself well informed about matters in general. On April 14,
Panglima Adak brought letters from Inchi Jamila relating to the
succession to the sultanate. She announced that the late Sultan directed
in his will that Amirul Kiram be elected sultan, and she endeavored to
influence the governor in his favor. Rivera expressed himself in favor
of Badarud Din, declaring this to be the only course he could take in
conformity with the terms and intentions of the treaty. This put a
quietus on the cause of dissension and the council of datus voted unan-
imously in favor of Badarud Din II, who had just completed his
nineteenth year.
In the meantime, disturbances in Sulu had caused some alarm at
Manila and prompt action was taken by the General Government. Brig-
adier-General La Corte, who was intending to inspect the fortifications
of the south, was directed temporarily to avssume command of the gov-
ernment of Mindanao and personally to conduct what operations it
might be necessary to undertake on the Island of Sulu. La Corte came
by the way of Cebu and Zamboanga and brought the Sixth Regiuient of
Infantry from Cebu and two companies of the Second Regiment of
Infantry from Zamboanga. Soon after his arrival at Jolo, he addressed
a strong letter to Sultan Badarud Din requesting the punishment of the
Sulus who attacked the Plaza of Jolo on April 10. Badarud Din
responded promptly and commissioned Datu Pula to go to Lu'uk and
Taglibi and punish the transgressors. This, however, was not carried
out, for Panglima Sakandar of Lu'uk, who was loyal to the Sultan,
placed himself at the service of Badarml Din and promised to bring the
aggressors alive or dead. The Sultan's forces attacked the rancheria
of Maharaja Abdulla, the chief aggressor, and killed nine men and one
datu. The maharaja and. the chiefs of seven other rancherias of Lu'uk
then surrendered themselves and swore allegiance to Spain. The sultan
and the chief datus later presented themselves before General La Corte
and reaffinned their fealty to the Spanish Government. The Governor-
General subsequently wrote a letter to the Sultan, expressing his pleasure
and recognizing the sincere efforts of the latter to reestablish peace and
tranquillity.
In June, 1881, General La Corte authorized the construction of the
loopholed wall with towers and embrasures to complete the defenses of
the town. He recommended frequent reconnaissances of the interior
and target practice for the forces of the garrison, and advised the
governor to strengthen the hand of the Sultan and to require from
him at the same time strict enforcement of all obligations that tended to
prove the loyalty of his people to the Spanish Government. General
La Corte left Jolo on the 29th of June, taking back the troops of the
Second Regiment of Infantry to Zamboanga.
Governor Rivera was relieved on Xovember 15, 1881, by Col. Isidro
Gutierrez Soto. The new governor exhibited unusual coolness and
personal courage. He visited Maymbung without military escort and
attempted in every way to strengthen his friendship with the Sultan and
datus and to encourage them to have similar confidence in the Spanish
officials; but dissensions among the Sulus and the jealousy of Pangian
Inchi Jamila frustrated all his efforts. Without opposition Badarud
Din might have ruled fairly well, but the plotting of Inchi Jamila and
the unfriendliness of her party made a coward of him. He became in-
consistent and seemed at times to lack confidence in the Spanish Gov-
ernment. He projected a secret trip to Sandakan and the Spaniards
notified him that in case he left Sulu without the permission of the
Government another sultan would be appointed in his place.
In Januar}^, 1882, Bangao was occupied by troops, and part' of the
southern squadron was stationed there. In May Siasi was similarly
garrisoned. On April 29, 1882, Governor Soto became ill and left for
Manila. He was relieved temporarily by Brig.-Gen. Jose Paulin, who
was on a tour of inspection in the south and had come to Jolo to conduct
some official negotiations with the sultan.
On the 2d of June, Col. Eduardo Fernandez Bremon took office as
governor of Sulu. Soon after this time Sultan Badarud Din left Jolo
on a pilgrimage to Mecca and delegated his authority to Datu Aliyud Din
in conjunction with the Sultana Inchi Jamila. Governor Bremon's
command was very eventful and difficult. Cholera came from Singapore
and overran the whole Archipelago. Disturbances increased, the turbu-
lent inhabitants of Lu'uk became restless and hostile, and juramentados
came so frequently tliat tliey aetnaily besieged tlie town. The wall and
towers and the defensive Barracks of Victory w^ere finished and these
completely checked the entrance of hostile Suhis into the town. La-
drones and wandering parties infested the suburbs and hills and com-
munication with Maymbung was broken. Tn August Governor Bremon
fell ill and asked to be relieved of his command. In September a gen-
eral attack on the plaza of Jolo was planned by tlie Sulus and conditions
assumed a ver}^ serious aspect. For one wiiole month, it is said, the
gates of Jolo were not opened.
The charge of Sulu aifairs at tliis critical stage was inti-usted to General
Paulin, who arrived at Jolo on October 1, accompanied by Col. Julian
Gonzalez Parrado, who was appointed to relieve Colonel Bremon as gov-
ernor of Sulu. The Sulu squadron was increased and the garrison of Jolo
reenforced. General Paulin conducted an expedition to Lu^ik to chastise
the rancherias of Tu'tu' and Bwal, which were reported to be the chief
centers of hostility and disturbance on the island. He first called at
Maymbung, and ])res8ed upon Datu Aliyud Din and the council the
necessity of their doing their part toward the punishment of the guilty
parties, and Datu Aliyud Din at the head of a small force accompanied
the expedition. Troops were disem))arked at Pandang-pandang, Ka-
dungdung, Tampukan, and Bwal; they burned parts of these rancherias
and made some advances inland. The fighting was not severe and the
Sulus harassed the troops to a considerable extent. The navy cooperated
with the troops, but the expedition was small and accomplished no signifi-
cant results.
In his report to the' Governor-Cieneral, General Paulin recommended
the repetition of such expeditions in order to impress the Sulus with the
superiority of Spanish arms and to punish all transgressors. Commenting
upon the nature of the warfare the expedition experienced he considered
the natural difficulties attending campaigns in the island as l)eing ditficult
to overcome. The art of war, he said, has no application as against
Moros. The Sulus, he continued, are either treacherous wild beasts or
fanatical heroes, according to the sentiment which at the time impels
them to fight. They are savage warriors who hide in order to attack and
rise at the feet of the enemy when least expected. They conceal them-
selves in clumps of trees and cliffs or ditches, and when ready to fight,
discharge their firearms or throw lances and bolos, while howling and
dancing frantic war dances. They flee after an attack, but in their
flight they attack the rear guard.
Governor Parrado was a man of considerable ability and tact. Con-
fidence and peace were reestablished, the datus often came to town and
the peo})le attended the mai-ket in large numbers. In I)ccend)er, 1883,
Tata'an, on the northwestern coast of Tawi-tawi, was occupied hy troops.
On his WAV back from Mecca, Sultan Badanid Din was met at Singa-
pore by a representative of the Philippine Government, who requested
that he return to Jolo by the way of Manila. The sultan declined,
stating that the recent death of his son made it imperative for him to
return directly to Maymhung, but he promised to visit Manila later.
He reached Sulu in Januar\% 1883. After his arrival he exhibited vigor
and watchfulness and soon prepared to go to Manila. This project
seemed to excite unusual disturbance, bordering on panic at Parang and
Lu^uk, and for fear of undesirable consequences he changed his mind
and gave up the trip.
By his pilgrimage to Mecca, which was the first ever taken by a Sultan
of Sulu, Badarud Din gained respect and influence, but no sagacity.
Desiring to strengthen his authority and to imitate the European nations
by organizing a police force for the sultanate, he brought 2 Egyptian
officers and 30 Sikhs from Singapore and made arrangements with an
English house in Singapore for tlie purchase of 200 breech- loading rifles.
The rifles caused the Spanish Government some anxiety, but thorough
investigation and inquir}- i)roved that they never went beyond Ijabuan.
The Sikhs were not paid for two months after arrival at Maymbung and
left the service at once. Such organization meant a first step toward
reform, but Badarud Din had no education worthy of the name and
lacked the requisite ability, strength, and character for carrying on such
measures. Soon he acquired the opium habit and methods of licentious
living. He finally lost his hold on affairs in general.
Datu Ali^-ud Din removed to Matanda, where a large house was built
for him by the governor of Sulu ; and a village of 400 people soon arose
around his residence. The blockhouse of Jovellar was then built near
the beach for his protection and help.
So far the governor of Sulu addressed the sultan as his son, the sultan
addressed the governor as his father and relations were friendly and
pleasant. But in June, 1883, three jnramenindos slipped into the post,
killed two officers and wounded one officer and two soldiers before they
could be dispatchcnl. Governor Parrado a^idresscnl a strong letter to the
sultan requesting the immediate and proper punishment of the district
from which the juramenfados came. The sultan neither responded nor
did h^ send information relative to the place from which the juramentados
came. Governor Parrado then took mattei^s into his own hand, made an
expedition to Taglibi and chastised its chief Sahibud Din. Soon after,
two soldiers were killed in the vicinity of Jolo while cutting bamboo and
another expe<lition was undertaken to Buhanginan to punish the mur-
derers. An expedition was also made to South Ubian, where the pirate
Panglima Jami was reported to have taken refuge. Jami was not found
at this place, but the local chiefs burned Jami's kuia and house and
promised to deliver him to the government when he returned to TJbian.
Governor Parrado proved himself an effitrient and able administrator.
He recognized the absurdity of a policy of extermination, and felt con-
scious of the lack of a unifonn, well-planned and settled policy on the
part of the General Government toward Sulu. He realized that the
Moros possessed a form of civilization and could not be treated like
savages. He used his influence for good in times of peace and employed
his forces to reestablish peace with justice in times of hostility. He was
strong and sagacious in most of the measures he undertook.
Datu Pula, a strong chief worthy of trust and a man of prestige,
died before the expiration of the year 1883. Pula's influence always
tended toward peace with Spain and the support of Badarud Din against
his rival. His death was consequently a loss to both sides. The sultan
and the governor continued on good terms of friendship during January
and February, 1884, and the affairs of Sulu were conducted smoothly
and peacefully, but on the 22d of Februar}-, 1884, Badarud Din died; the
state was soon rent by dissension and another period of trouble and
disturbance followed.
