Sulu historical notes
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[85] on a Sulu pandita[86] 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.[87] 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.[88] His wife was Indira[89] Suga.[90] They were sent here by Alexander the Great.[91] Jamiyun Kulisa begot Tuan Masha’ika.[92] Masha’ika begot Mawmin.[93] 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[94] Orangkaya Su’il the Sulus received from Manila four Bisayan captives, one silver agong,[95] 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,[96] and is the forefather of all the people of Parang. The white-eyed man was stationed at Lati,[97] and is the forefather of all the people of Lati. The black-eyed man was stationed at Gi’tung,[98] and is the forefather of the people of Gi’tung. The blue-eyed man was stationed at Lu’uk,[99] and is the forefather of the people of Lu’uk. At that time the religion of Mohammed had not come to Sulu.