Moro and narcotics

[migueldiaz]

Originally Posted by Dimasalang

If America at one point thought opium was harmless and didn't ban the substance, then to me there is a small possibility opium was not a illegal drug by the Moros either.

Dimasalang, that's a very valid point.

Also, we know that the Moros practice folk Islam, in the same manner that (Filipino) Christians practice folk Catholicism.

Thus what was actually practiced by those people did not strictly follow the hard-and-fast tenets of those religions.

Very recently, millions of Filipinos saw on TV a bolo rush of Mindanao cultists against a group of police and govt. militiamen. Please see attached news clips.

I myself saw the video footages. The first to rush was a cult member who attacked from a stationary position about 10 meters away from the govt. troops. As soon as he sprung from where he stood, he immediately met a hail of M16 and pistol rounds. And yet he almost hacked a frontline trooper after being able to cover the 10 meters, before he finally fell, literally at the feet of the troopers.

And then the others cult members, waving their bolos and also no firearms, started rushing to the troopers (three of the cultists can be seen in the clip below, with the rightmost cultist seen as hit already).

Surely a religiously-inspired and determined attacker will be able to withstand a lot of gunshot wounds before he is stopped.

The news articles are here and here.

[Dimasalang]

Originally Posted by migueldiaz

Dimasalang, that's a very valid point.

Also, we know that the Moros practice folk Islam, in the same manner that (Filipino) Christians practice folk Catholicism.

Thus what was actually practiced by those people did not strictly follow the hard-and-fast tenets of those religions.

Very recently, millions of Filipinos saw on TV a bolo rush of Mindanao cultists against a group of police and govt. militiamen. Please see attached news clips.

I myself saw the video footages. The first to rush was a cult member who attacked from a stationary position about 10 meters away from the govt. troops. As soon as he sprung from where he stood, he immediately met a hail of M16 and pistol rounds. And yet he almost hacked a frontline trooper after being able to cover the 10 meters, before he finally fell, literally at the feet of the troopers.

And then the others cult members, waving their bolos and also no firearms, started rushing to the troopers (three of the cultists can be seen in the clip below, with the rightmost cultist seen as hit already).

Surely a religiously-inspired and determined attacker will be able to withstand a lot of gunshot wounds before he is stopped.

The news articles are here and here.

Interesting article. I notice they called them "Tad-Tad"(Chop Chop). This was originally a Pulajane name from the early part of the century. I know many Pulajane groups migrated south in the Mindanao after their battles with PC, PS, and soldiers. Is this cult descended from the Pulajane group?

[migueldiaz]

Originally Posted by Dimasalang

Interesting article. I notice they called them "Tad-Tad"(Chop Chop). This was originally a Pulajane name from the early part of the century. I know many Pulajane groups migrated south in the Mindanao after their battles with PC, PS, and soldiers. Is this cult descended from the Pulajane group?

Am not sure whether the cult traces its roots to the Pulahanes.

But the first attacker I mentioned above (I think he's the leader), was dressed in bright red blouse. That must mean something.

Below is a pic of the local reenactors' interpretation of how a Pulahan dressed.

Back to the Moros, when I was going over the Tausug (Jolo Moro)-English dictionary, I also noticed that there are more terms about talismans, charms, and amulets, as compared to orthodox Islam terms. At least that was my impression.

Thus aside from their Islamic faith, the folk Islam practiced by the Moros involved a lot of trusting in these amulets. Again, just my impression.

And we know how a firm belief or state of mind can superhumanly sustain a person, up to a point.

[Nonoy Tan]

when I was going over the Tausug (Jolo Moro)-English dictionary, I also noticed that there are more terms about talismans, charms, and amulets, as compared to orthodox Islam terms

I ascribe to this methodology of researching the dictionary, especially those created during the relevant period (years). If these was such a drug, then surely the name by which it is called by the locals would be found in those dictionaries. These dictionaries would include Bagobo, Tausug, Maguindanao, Sama, Mandaya, Tboli, etc. (all the linguistic groups).

[migueldiaz]

Originally Posted by Nonoy Tan

I ascribe to this methodology of researching the dictionary, especially those created during the relevant period (years). If these was such a drug, then surely the name by which it is called by the locals would be found in those dictionaries. These dictionaries would include Bagobo, Tausug, Maguindanao, Sama, Mandaya, Tboli, etc. (all the linguistic groups).

Excellent point.

As ethnographers say, if something is part and parcel of a culture, then for sure there will be a term for it.

The absence of the term for a warrior's drug or hallucinogen thus seems to support the idea that by and large, none was used.

Maybe somebody ought to check out also the Maranaw terms (aside from the Magindanaw terms) ...

PS - The Tausug-English Dictionary I used (by Hassan, et al.), cites as references older Tausug dictionaries and manuscripts, i.e., late-1800s to early-1900s as I recall.

[Battara]

On the issue of the color red, if I understand right, red was the color of blood and thus the color worn by warriors who killed a certain number in battle. I forgot which tribe used this (I want to say early Tagalogs and others).

[Vaarok]

Well, two things of note. One, as was mentioned, a .38 caliber blackpowder or primitive smokeless cartridge like .38 Long Colt is far and away from a certain killer. It barely delivers 270J of energy at the muzzle. The idea of a sidearm is generally to be a backup for a primary weapon like a rifle, and a bolt-action rifle with a high-velocity jacketed bullet is much more likely to punch clean through than cause tremendous harm. This was a huge reason for the reissue of the Single Action Army in .45 Colt, which created about 650J of muzzle energy, and troops favoring the single shot Trapdoor Springfield in .45-70 over the .30-40 Krag magazine-fed smokeless rifle.

So you've got psychologically hyped up, adrenalized, possibly drugged opponents swarming people with bolt-action rifles and backup revolvers in relatively mixed cover. Chances of clean misses increase, fleshwounds are not severe because of slow velocity ball projectiles, nothing but a CNS hit really can be relied upon to put an opponent down regardless...

I suppose it all devolves into Tueller Drill (the theory that within forty feet a knife beats a gun for first-critical-wound-delivered) versus fire discipline.

It's also why the Thompson-LaGarde Tests were demanded in 1904, and subsequently the adoption of the .45 ACP.

The British, however, ended up with the Mark III cartridge after facing definitely drugged Zulus with Martinis, Beaumont-Adams, Webley-Green, and Webley-Pryse revolvers, and the 220-grain .455 hollowpoint derived from their experiences definitely earned the title of The Manstopper largely because of use on chemically enhanced opponents.