erty reigned in the Island.

In _Cottabato_ (Mindanao Is.), the attempt to establish a local native
government ended in tragic failure. In January, 1899, a Spanish
gunboat silently entered the port without the customary whistling
and firing of salute. It brought a despatch to the Governor from the
nominal acting-Gov.-General Rios, who, coming from Yloilo, called at
Zamboanga before proceeding to Manila, to receive on board a number of
Spanish refugees. One of the crew of the gunboat also brought a private
communication from the Jesuit Superior in Zamboanga to the Jesuit
missionary Father Suarez. The official despatch notified the Governor
that the Treaty of Paris had been signed, and consequently he was to
evacuate Cottabato immediately. The private communication told the
same tale to the missionary, with an inquiry from the Jesuit Superior
as to whether he could continue his mission after the withdrawal of
the Spanish Governor, and whether it would be of any advantage to do
so. The Governor informed the missionary of his intended departure,
and the missionary replied negatively to his superior in Zamboanga. The
Governor then called Roman Vilo, his confidential christian native
assistant, and told him that he and all who had been loyal to the
Spanish Government and faithful in their service could take passage
to Zamboanga. Vilo, however, for himself and his family, declined
the offer on the ground that all his interests were in and about
Cottabato, where he possessed real estate. The Governor then had the
Moro-Chinese half-caste Datto Piang called, and in the presence of
Vilo the former was appointed chief of the Moro people and the latter
governor of the christian population. After making a short speech,
exhorting the two chiefs, in benevolent phrases, to live in peace
and act mutually for the common good, the Governor, accompanied by
the Jesuit missionaries and others who were desirous of leaving the
place, went to Zamboanga on the gunboat.

When, after the lapse of some weeks, Datto Piang felt sure that
the Spaniards would never be again in authority at Cottabato, he
begged Vilo to let him have twenty rifles to defend himself against a
rival. The christian governor agreed to this, and week by week Datto
Piang's demands grew until, at length, all the rifles in the possession
of the Christians passed to the Moros. But there still remained some
cannons, and Datto Piang, having represented the necessity of making
w