Chapter VII: Introduction

These notes were copied by the author from a book in the possession of Hadji Butu, prime minister to the Sultan of Sulu. Pages 1, 2, and 3 form a separate article. They appear to be a supplement to the Genealogy of Sulu, but they were undoubtedly derived from a different source. Their contents are well known to the public and are probably an attempt on the part of Hadji Butu to register what seemed to him a true and interesting tradition of his people.

Page 4 was copied by the author from an old, dilapidated document which was torn in many places. It no doubt formed part of an authentic genealogy of Sulu, older and more reliable than that of the manuscripts on pages 148 and 149. It is written in Malay.

Page 5 is a copy of a Sulu document issued by Sultan Jamalul-Kiram I in the year 1251 A. H., or about seventy-three years ago. It confers the title of Khatib or Katib [102] on a Sulu pandita [103] named Adak. In conferring a title of this sort it is customary among the Sulus to give the person so honored a new name, generally an Arabic one, such as Abdur Razzak. [104] The same custom is observed in the case of accession to the sultanate and other high offices.

The writing at the top of the page is the seal of Jamalul Kiram. The date given in the seal is the date of his sultanate. The flourish at the end of the signature below is the mark of the writer.

SULU NOTES

Translation of page 1 of the original manuscript.--The first person who lived on the Island of Sulu is Jamiyun Kulisa. [105] His wife was Indira [106] Suga. [107] They were sent here by Alexander the Great. [108] Jamiyun Kulisa begot Tuan Masha'ika. [109] Masha'ika begot Mawmin. [110] Mawmin's descendants multiplied greatly. They are the original inhabitants of Sulu and chief ancestors of the present generation.

Translation of page 2 of the original manuscript.--In the days of the Timway [111] Orangkaya Su'il the Sulus received from Manila four Bisayan captives, one silver agong, [112] one gold hat, one gold cane, and one silver vase, as a sign of friendship between the two countries. One of the captives had red eyes, one had black eyes; one, blue eyes; and one, white eyes.

Translation of page 3 of the original manuscript.--The red-eyed man was stationed at Parang, [113] and is the forefather of all the people of Parang. The white-eyed man was stationed at Lati, [114] and is the forefather of all the people of Lati. The black-eyed man was stationed at Gi'tung, [115] and is the forefather of the people of Gi'tung. The blue-eyed man was stationed at Lu'uk, [116] and is the forefather of the people of Lu'uk. At that time the religion of Mohammed had not come to Sulu.

Translation of page 4 of the original manuscript.--The first inhabitants of the Island of Sulu were the people of Maymbung. [117] They were followed by the Tagimaha [118] and the Baklaya. [119] Later came the Bajaw (Samals) from Juhur. Some Bajaws were taken by the Sulus and were distributed among the three divisions of the island, while others drifted to Bruney and Magindanao. Some time after that there came Karimul [120] Makdum. [121] He sailed in a pot of iron and the ancients called him Sharif [122] Awliya. [123] The Sulus adopted the Mohammedan religion and brought Makdum to Bwansa. [124] There the Tagimaha chiefs built a mosque. Ten years later there arrived Raja Baginda, who emigrated from Menangkabaw. [125] Baginda came to Zamboanga first. From there he moved to Basilan and Sulu. The natives met him on the sea for the purpose of fighting him. He asked them, "Why do you wish to fight a Mohammedan who is coming to live with you?" He married there.

The commission of Khatib Abdur Razzak.

The Conqueror. By the order of the Omniscient King, The Sultan Mohammed Jamalul Kiram. The year 1239.

Translation of page 5 of the original manuscript.--Dated Wednesday, the tenth of Ramadan, in the year "D," the first, which corresponds to the year 1251 of the Hegirah of the Prophet Mohammed, may the best of God's mercy and blessing be his. This day his majesty our master, the Sultan Jamalul [126] Kiram [127] has granted Adak an official title by virtue of which he will be known as Khatib [128] Abdur [129] Razzak. [130] This is done in conference and consultation and with the consent of all the people, without dissent.

By the will of God the most High.

(Signed) The Sultan Jamaul Kiram.

[The End.]