The fearlessness of the Moros in battle, their determination, per-
sistence, and fortitude must have disheartened the Spaniards very often
in their weary attempts to conquer and pacify Sulu. The Sulus have .
never had any standing army. Every able-bodied male was a soldier
and a sailor. Thousands of Sulus and Samals stood ready at a moment's
notice to man a fleet and defend a fort. Every fort the Spaniards re-
duced the Sulus could rebuild in a short time ; every fleet destroyed they
could replace with little expense. They had enough pearls to purchase
guns and ammunition, and a few months after a defeat they were ready to
fight again, better prepared than before. War with Sulu, in the way it
was conducted, meant a war of extermination and hostilities without
end. Its worst evils befell the helpless natives of the coast settlements of
the Bisayas and southern Luzon to whom Spain was unable to afford safe
protection. The ^loros would slip through in the night or take ad-
vantage of a favorable wind and attack the Spanish forces or the de-
fenseless villages while they were unaware of danger or unprepared
for a figlit. For a long while it seemed beyond the power of the Phil-
ippine Govenmient to reestablish peace or restrict hostilities to Sulu
waters. The magnificent victory of Claveria was hailed as mark-
ing the beginning of a new era of safety and glory, but its effects did not
last long, and the fear of the Moros beset the hearts of the Bisayans once
more.
In the light of such profound experience as the Philippine Govern-
ment had had with Moro affairs Governor Urbiztondo might have con-
tended himself with punishing the Moros of Tonkil and their abettors
and allies, but another element of serious concern entered into the
problem which threatened not only to render it more vexatious and un-
solvable, but dangerous in the extreme. It was not so much the evils of
disturbed relations with Sulu as the harm that would arise from En-
glish occupation of or alliance with Sulu that Urbiztondo feared, for
in 1849, Sir James Brooke visited Jolo and made a treaty with the
Sultan of Sulu/ the 8eveuth article of which declared a promise made
by the Sultan of Sulu not to make any cessions of territory within his
dominion nor recognize sovereignty rights nor promise fealty to any
nation without the consent of (Jreat Britain. The overt object of this
treaty was "to keep open for the benefit of the mercantile world that
improvable field for commercial enterprise," but the ultimate puqK)8e
of such an agrec^ment was not difficult to foresee. The governor of
Zamboanga went to Jolo and protested strongly, declaring such a treaty
an act of disloyalty to Spain, for which the Sultan and his council would
be held responsible. The subject was debated with considerable feeling
. on both sides. The governor remained at Jolo twenty-seven days and
returned without advantage.
The treaty was never ratified by Great Britain, but such endeavors on
the paii: of a strong maritime European power made it necessary for
Spain to act decisively and expeditiously. Urbiztondo then pressed to
the attention of Sultan Pulalun and his council the necessity of punish-
ing the Samals of Tonkil for their depredations on Samar and Kamigin
and requested the return of the captives whom they carried away. Con-
siderable controversy followed and the Sulus pretended that they were
unable to punish Tonkil, but offered no objwtion to its castigation by
the Philippine Government.
Aware of the seriousness of the situation, Urbiztondo made prepara-
tions for war and decided to attack not Tonkil only, but Jolo also,
repeating there the example of Balangingi, and to bring Sulu under
the control of Spain. Keferring to this cause, Captain Keppel, in his
"Visit to the Indian Archipelago," makes the following remarks:
His [the Sultan's] fortified position gave him weight, which he had frequently
thrown into the scale of humanity: and it must now be feared that many whom
he was able to hold in check will again follow their evil propensities unrestrained,
as they did under previous dynasties.
The resentment of Spain, as visited upon the Sultan of Sulu, seems equally
impolitic and unjust. The pretext was piracy, of which some solitary instance
may very possibly have been established against a Sulu prahu; but the Sultan
was certainly sincere in his wish to cooperate against that system. There is
ground to fear that national jealousy was desirous of striking its puny blow
at an European rival, through the degradation of the Sultan of Sulu — that he
has incurred, in fact, the resentment of the Spanish colonial governors, by those
commercial treaties with ourselves which were but lately concluded by Sir
James Brooke.*
On the 11th day of December, 1850, Urbiztondo left Manila in com-
mand of a force consisting of 100 troops of artillery, 500 of infantry,
2 mountain howitzers, and a number of irregidar troops and workmen.
Two steamboats, one corvette, and one brigantine carried the troops to
Zamboanga, where they arrived on the '^Oth. Here 3 companies of
infantr}' and 102 volunteere and C tenders under the command of the
governor of Zamboanga joined the expedition. At Belun they burned
250 houses and 20 vintas. A small force of Moros was encountered,
of which they killed 3 and captured 17 prisoners, one of whom was a
panglwia. Tlie chief of Bukutwan surrendered and promised to remain
obedient to Spain. At Tonkil bad weather was encountered and the
whole expedition turned toward Jolo.
Jolo was well fortified. It had five forts on the sea front, the
strongest two of which were that of the Sultan on the right and that
of Datu Daniel on the hill. Three other forts were located on prominent
points at the base of the hills. The town was further defended by a
double line of trenches, other fortifications and much artillery. The
population was estimated at 6,000 Moros and 500 Chinese.
The fleet saluted the town and anchored in the roadstead. Two offi-
cers were sent ashore to notify the Sultan of the presence of tho
(lOvemor-General and of his wish to liave an interview with the Sultan
and tw^o of his datus, on board. The people were excited to such a high
degree, that the mob grew violent and uncontrollable as the officers drew
near the shore. Insults and weapons were hurled at them from every
side, and the people shoute<l to them to return lest they be killed. They,
however, pushed on in the direction of the Sultan's fort, where some
datus came out to meet and protect them. Even then spears were
thrown at them, and one of the datus had to use his kanipUan in order
to enforce his orders. The Sultan at last came out personally, embraced
the officers, and conducted them to the audience hall. There the mes-
sage was delivered to the Sultan and his council, but they all refused to
go on board. The officers met the same. difficulty in leaving the Sultan's
house as in coming in, and as soon as they embarked five shots were
discharged at them by the mob. The officers reported that the town
had more than 10,000 fighting men and that it was well provisioned and
well defended, and that all the women and children were removed to
the mountains. Urbiztondo decided that his forces and provisions were
inadequate for the occasion and did not risk a combat. On January 1,
1851, as the fleet was preparing to sail away, the Sulus fired at it,
killing seven, wounding four, and damaging the hulls of some of the
vessels. The fleet returned the fire, but kept moving, and sailed away
in the direction of Tonkil. Here the expedition met no organized
resistance. Six hundred men Were disembarked, fought some armed
parties, caught 4 and killed 25 men, and rescued 29 captives. Al)Out
1,000 houses and 106 boats were burned,. and the fleet then returned to
Zamboanga.
Here Urbiztondo made further and extensive preparations to
strengthen his expedition. The commanding marine officer was sent to
Manila with special instructions to augment the fleet and bring sufficient
ammunition and provisions. The Angustinian friar Pascual Ibanez
raised a force of 750 Cebuans and 21 harangay, or large boats, and
volunteered his help. Lumber was cut at Basilan, and lankan,^ rafts,
and ladders were constructed. Volunteers were further called for, and
a large fleet of war vessels and transports was assembled at Zamboanga
February 12, 1851.
Besides the staff, engineers, surgeons, and chaplains, the reenforced
expedition contained 11 officers and 253 privates of artillery, 1 officer
and 30 privates of sappers, 123 officers and 2,593 privates of infantry,
525 volunteers from Cebu, 100 from Iloilo, and 300 from Zamboanga;
in all 142 officers, 2,876 privates, and 925 volunteers, besides rowers
and other workmen. The vessels carrying the forces were 1 corvette, 1
brigantine, 3 steamboats, 2 gunboats, 9 tenders, 9 transports, and 21
harangay, with various vintas,^ lankan, and rafts. On February 19
mass was celebrated and the expedition started for the haughty and
arrogant city.
Jolo was reached on the 27th and the fleet anchored in two divisions
opposite both sides of the town. The troops disembarked at dawn next
morning and engaged tbe enemy as both divisions of tbe fleet began a
simultaneous bombardment of the town and forts. The marksmanship
of the Sulus and Spaniards was splendid, and the guns of the forts were
very active. The spectacle was magnificent, the attack was most valorous,
and the defense most valiant. In the heat of battle one friar was
killed as he was scaling the wall and three officers fell by his side and lay
surrounded by 70 corpses of Sulus. After several attempts one of the
forts on the northeast side wai^ taken by storm and the escaping Sulus
made for Daniel's fort. As they were admitted into the latter, it was
rushed by the Spanish troops who entered in spite of the desperate
resistance the Sulus made. As the inner inclosure was gained the Sulus
hurled themselves from the parapets and fled. The fighting continued
until next day, when every fort was reduced, and the Sulus evacuated
the town. The casualties of the attacking forces were 36 dead and 92
wounded, while the Sulus lost 300 dead. The whole town was burned to
ashes and 112 pieces of artillery were taken. After four days, the Gov-
ernor-General and his council decided to evacuate the town and sailed
away, leaving it ungarrisoned. They evidently thought that their purpose
was accomplished and that they could not afford to leave a force suf-
ficiently strong to defend the place.
On April 30 a treaty was made with Sultan Pulalun by the politico-
military governor of Zamboanga, Col. Jose Maria de Carlos. The treaty
was declared to be '*an act of incorporation of the sultanate of Sulu to
* A big dugout canoe.
a Vessels of some 11 meters length, li meters beam, and 40 centimeters overhang at the
bow. They are furnished with outriggers and a removable deck [commonly of loose
slats]. (Note in Montero y Vidal's History of the Piracy of the Mohammedan Malays.)
the Spanish Monarchy/^ The Sulus understood it to be a firm agreement
and friendly union with Spain. They, however, appear to have rec-
ognized the supremacy of Spain and accepted her protectorate. They
agreed to use the Spanish flag and prohibit piracy. They further
bound themselves not to make any treaties with any nation other than
Spain nor to build forts nor to import firearms without her permission.
Spain promised to respect and recognize the ranks of the Sultan and
datus and to protect Sulu boats everj^^here and to the same extent as
Spanish boats. Duties on foreign boats were to be paid to the Sulus.
Religious liberty was guaranteed. The Sultan issued passports to the
Sulus and countersigned Spanish passports given to people entering the
ports of Sulu.
It was agreed that Spain would build a trading post at Jolo and
establish a small garrison for its protection. The Sultan and the datus
resumed their residence in the town of Jolo, with apparently very little
change from former conditions.
In consideration of the losses incurred by the Sultan and datus through
the destruction of their houses and town, and on condition that the Sulus
aid in the construction and protection of the Jolo trading post, annuities
were granted to the Sultan, three datus, and one subordinate chief.
The treaty was written in both Spanish and Sulu and was signed and
sealed by both parties. Complete and exact translations of the Spanish
and Sulu copies of this treaty have been carefully made and are here
given in full. The Sulu copy of the treaty appears to have been written
or dictated by interpreters not versed in Sulu, and the difference in text
is such as would easily explain the frequent misunderstandings between
the Spanish oflBcials and the Sulu authorities in cases pertaining to the
application of the terms of this treaty.
