Studies in Moro History, Law, and Religion

by Najeeb M. Saleeby

Note.—In case a murder occurs in a neighborhood or village, and the actual murderer is unknown, the blood money is paid by the people of that neighborhood or village. They pay the full amount of blood money in case they do not swear to the effect that they did not commit the murder, but in case they swear to that effect they pay only half the fine.

Article VII

Section 1. The fine for marriage by abduction[7] shall be six pieces of calico and the woman’s dower[8] shall be doubled. In case the dower is expressed in terms of slaves, the value of the slave shall be considered equal to four pieces or gajahilaw. The price of the bride, usually paid to the parents of the woman, in ounces of gold, called in Sulu basing, will be paid at the rate of one gajahilaw for a basing. The governor’s share of the fine shall be four gajahilaw.

Sec. 2. The fine for elopement is four gajahilaw and the dower shall not be doubled. The slave’s rate of exchange shall be four gajahilaw in case it is the custom of her family to receive actual slaves as a dower. The basing’s rate of exchange is one gajahilaw.

In case the slave dower is nominal, the slave’s rate of exchange shall be three gajahilaw of calico, and the basing one piece of kusta, of low grade.

Sec. 3. In case of seduction admitted or disguised, marriage shall be concluded if the woman requests it. The man shall be fined two gajahilaw and the woman shall be treated as if she eloped. In cases of actual slave dowers, the slave’s rate shall be four gajahilaw and the basing one gajahilaw. In cases of nominal slave dower, the slave’s rate shall be three gajahilaw and the basing’s one piece of kusta of the low grade.

Sec. 4. Compulsory marriage is treated as marriage by abduction.

Sec. 5. (a) If adultery is committed with a panglima’s wife, the man shall be fined fifty gajahilaw, which can not be exchanged with anything except gold, silver, brass drums, or lantaka. If unable to pay, the man himself shall become the property of the panglima.[9]

(b) If adultery is committed with the wife of a maharāja pahlawan,[10] the man shall be fined forty gajahilaw; which can not be exchanged except as in the previous case.

(c) If adultery is committed with the wife of a subordinate officer of state or a country pandita, or an agent of a governor, the man shall pay a fine of thirty gajahilaw, unexchangeable except as in section five (a).