Sandican, a Sama Lutangan Moro, liv
ing at Masingluc, came into town and
complained to Gov. Finley that he had
gone to the village of Labuansulu one
night, for the purpose of bringing his
sister, Adjilia, and her husband, Sadian,
a Kalibugan, with him to Masingluc,
and that Salip Abdullah, the head man
of that place, refused to allow them to
leave, giving as a reason that the weath
er was not favorable for a trip of that
kind. The real cause of his refusal was
that Abdullah claims Sadian as his slave,
having paid 80 pesos for him about five
years ago to Orang Caya Urang, who re
sides at Cubuain.
Sandican managed to smuggle his sis
ter away with him, but could not get
Sadian, who, however, managed to make
his escape later and came to Masingluc.
Gov. Finley has sent messengers to
Salip Abdullah and Orang Caya Urang
demanding their presence at his- office,
and the matter will probably be adjusted.
On the whole, slavery in this region,
if it be compared with the system in
other countries, will appear exceedingly
mild. Master and slave usually live in
the same house, eat the same food, and
exist on the same plane. Undoubtedly
many of the born servants in this region
prefer the easy life they lead in the
house of a strong master, who always
has enough rice and fish for them. to
the struggle for existence that would fol
low their liberation.
Slavery is not merely an institution:
it is also a stage of evolution, and many
of the slaves of this region are yet at
the low stage of development at which
the mild slavery in which they live suits
them better than freedom.
