of civilization and American methods, the whole territory being
parcelled out and ruled by petty Sultans, _Dattos_ or chiefs,
in separate independence. In the Lake Lanao district, for instance,
there is at least one _Datto_ for every 50 men. The only individual who
had any pretence to general control of the Mahometan population was
Hadji [246] Mohammad Jamalul Kiram, the Sultan of Sulu [247] (_vide_
p. 141). Therefore, in August, 1899, General Bates and this petty
prince made an agreement which was ratified by Congress on February
1 following, on the recommendation of the Schurman Commission (_vide_
p. 562), and thenceforth came into force. The principal conditions of
this convention were: (1) The Sultan's dignity and certain monopoly
rights were recognized under American suzerainty. (2) An annual pension
of 3,000 pesos was secured to him, and annual salaries ranging from
180 to 900 pesos were to be paid to eight of his _Dattos_ and one
priest. (3) A Moro accused of crime was to be tried by a Moro judge,
the maximum penalty for murder being fixed at 105 pesos (equal to
about ten guineas), which was a fair price in this region, from the
Moro point of view, for life here is held very cheap. (4) Absconding
Americans or Sulus were to be mutually surrendered. (5) The Americans
were (_a_) to protect the Sultan against encroachments by foreigners
or European nations; (_b_) not to take arms against the Sulus without
consulting the Sultan; (_c_) not to transfer their dominion over Jolo
to others except in agreement with the Sultan; (_d_) to be at liberty
to occupy any place in the Sultan's domains without trespassing on
lands about the royal residence, except as a military necessity of
war with a foreign Power; (_e_) not to interfere with the Mahometan
religion, or its rites, or its customs; (_f_) not to travel about
Sulu Island without the permission of the Sultan, who would provide an
escort. (6) The American flag was to be used on land and at sea. (7)
The Sulus were to be free to carry their native arms. (8) The Sultan
was at liberty to collect tribute everywhere in his domains, and to
have the right of direct intercourse with the American Gov.-General.

In consideration of the above, the Sultan undertook to maintain order
between his _Dattos_, to repress internecine warfare, and gradually
to abolish slavery throughout his jurisdiction.

Apparently the Sultan entered into the agreement much in the spirit
of Mr. Micawber, w