The Adventures of

Piang

The Moro Jungle Boy

Copyright, 1917, by The Century Co.

Copyright, 1916, by
David C. Cook Publishing Company
Copyright, 1917, Boys’ Life
The Boy Scouts Magazine

Published September, 1917

To
“Buddy”

Contents

• I The Charm Boy 6
• II The Floating Island 32
• III The Hermit of Ganassi Peak 51
• IV The Fire Tree 78
• V Riding the Cataract 108
• VI The Jungle Menace 129
• VII The Secret of the Source 157
• VIII The Juramentado Gunboat 193
• IX The Bichara 223
• X Piang’s Triumph 251

List of Illustrations

• Slowly he swam downward, conscious of a large body moving near him Frontispiece
• Rising to his feet, spear poised, he waited 17
• His hands closed over something 36
• On its neck it supported a weird creature 70
• “The boom! We must cut it!” 87
• With hands outstretched above his head, he waited for the great moment 122
• Piang reached up on tiptoe to pluck a ripe mango 139
• Gracefully the little slave-girl eluded Piang and Sicto 149
• Over and over they rolled, splashing and fighting 167
• A shrill whistle echoed through the forest 210
• “Juramentado! Gobernado!” faintly whispered Piang 227
• The water spout caught the eggshell praus in its toils 261

The Adventures of Piang
The Moro Jungle Boy

The Adventures of Piang
The Moro Jungle Boy

Piang is a real boy. Dato Kali Pandapatan is a real Moro chief. The Moro is not a Filipino.

When I returned from my life among the natives of the lower Philippines, I was appalled to find that America was not only ignorant of, but entirely indifferent to our colonies across the seas. The general impression seemed to be that Manila was a delightful Spanish city, and that Manila was the Philippines. That there are several thousand little islands in the Philippine group, each harboring its distinct tribe, each with its own dialect and religion, was entirely unknown. Impressed by the nobility of the Moro in contrast to the other tribes of the archipelago, by his unfortunate treatment and his possibilities for development, I found myself taking up his cause, and was repaid by intense interest wherever I launched forth on my pet subject. I was so successful that gradually I began to idealize the Moro, weaving around him, not the “might have beens,” but the “might be’s.” Hence, “The Adventures of Piang.”

Many of our military heros of other days share the honors with Piang; their exploits and privations are a romance in themselves, and among these pages the army and navy will recognize stories that have long since become history. I am indebted to Dean Worcester for statistics and a great deal of information on the origin and development of the Moro. Indeed some of Piang’s adventures are actual incidents of Dean Worcester’s travels. Robinson and Foreman have given me much material, and I find their books authentic and true chronicles of the Malay people. But most of all I am indebted to that great and wise man, Colonel John P. Finley, United States Army, who during his term as civil governor of the Moro provinces, did more to help a down-trodden people than any Christian who has ever attempted to bring them to the true light.

Anticipating carping criticisms from geographic purists, the author is ready to admit taking liberties with longitudes and latitudes, juggling lakes and mountains to the envy of Atlas, in order to serve the picturesque and romantic purposes of Piang.

Some of the stories in this volume appeared in the juvenile magazines, “St. Nicholas,” “What To Do,” and “Boys’ World,” and are reprinted through the courtesy of the editors.