Raja Muda Amirul Kiram, who fought and suffered so long for the
throne of his father and brother, succeeded Sultan Hai-un and assumed
the name of Sultan Jamalul Kiram II. He was not obliged to go to
Manila in order to be vested with proper authority by the Governor-
General, but it seems that he pledged himself in one way or another to
pay some tribute to the Spanish Government, and consequently a decree
was issued by Governor-General Blanco on March 1, 1894, directing a
general census of the Moros of the Sulu Archipelago and the collection of
a tax of 1 real ^ from each individual. The proceeds of this tribute,
after deducting the allowances made for the interpreters and collectors,
were to be devoted to the development of the institutions of Jolo, and
especially to the construction of roads. It is said that the sultan was
unable and unwilling to collect the tribut-e so decreed, but that he paid
from his own purse the sum of ^10,000 or its equivalent on the basis of
a population of 100,000 and at the rate of 1 real per person. The
collection of this tax was abandoned in the following year and was never
resumed.
The Sulus' adherence to the cause of Jamalul Kiram II was not
based on any personal influence he exerted on the people, but on the
influence of his mother and the people's devotion to the house of Jamalul
Kiram I. Datu Aliyud Din's claim wa^s theoretically strong, but for
various reasons his party weakened; while Amirul Kiram, though a
fugitive, gradually gained in influence and rose to power.
The administration of Governor Hernandez was the longest in dura-
tion next to that of Governor Arolas and was, on the whole, peaceful and
tranquil. On one occasion in 1895 hostilities broke out with Datus
Julkarna}Ti and Kalbi, and the Sulus of Lati and Patikul attacked the
town of Jolo causing several casualties. However, peace was soon
restored by Governor-General Blanco and no further hostilities occurred.
Governor Hernandez built the direct road, known as the Asturias Road,
which leads from the gate of the walled town to Fort Asturias. About
1897 General Hernandez was relieved by Col. (later Brig.-Gen.) Luis
Huerta, the last Spanish governor of Sulu.
Spain evacuated Sulu in May, 1899, and Jolo was garrisoned by Amer-
ican troops on the same day. On the 20th of August Gen. J. C. Bates
concluded a treaty with Sultan Jamalul Kiram II, generally known as
the "Bates Agreement," and the sovereignty of Sulu passed from Spain
to the United States of America.*
