a, whom they regard as God.

_Government of the Moros_. Among the Moros there is precisely the same
lack of government as among the Pintados. They had chiefs in their
respective districts, whom the people obeyed; they punished criminals,
and laid down the laws that must be observed. In the villages, where
they had ten or twelve chiefs, one only--the richest of them--was
he whom all obeyed. They greatly esteem an ancient lineage, which is
therefore a great advantage to him who desires to be a lord. When laws
were to be enacted for governing the commonwealth, the greatest chief,
whom all the rest obeyed, assembled in his own house all the other
chiefs of the village; and when they had come, he made a speech,
declaring that, to correct the many criminal acts which were being
committed, it was necessary that they impose penalties and enact
ordinances, so that these evils might be remedied and that all might
live in peace. This policy was not in vogue among the Pintados, because
no one of them was willing to recognize another as his superior. Then
the other chiefs replied that this seemed good to them; and that,
since he was the greatest chief of all, he might do whatever appeared
to him just, and they would approve it. Accordingly, that chief made
such regulations as he deemed necessary; for these Moros possess
the art of writing, which no other natives of the islands have. The
other chiefs approved what he ordained. Immediately came a public
crier, whom they call _umalahocan_, who is properly a mayor-domo, or
steward; he took a bell and went through the village, announcing in
each district the regulations which had been made. The people replied
that they would obey. Thus the umalahocan went from village to village,
through the whole district of this chief; and from that time on he who
incurred the penalties of law was taken to the chief, who sentenced him
accordingly. If the penalty be death, and the condemned man say that
he prefers to be a slave, he is pardoned, and becomes a slave. All the
other chiefs are also judges, each in his own district; but when any
important case arises the head chief calls all the others together, in
order to decide it, and the affair is settled by the vote of all. The
chiefs are accustomed to impose the taxes; but there is no fixed
amount for these, save what the proper judge decrees shall be paid.

_Marriages_. These Moros followed in their marriages the same customs
as those of the Pintado