174 THE PLANT WORLD 



were her own people. We would do anything for her. When Don 

 Enrique began the palace everybody wanted to help, — men, women, and 

 children, — carrying stones, getting sand for mortar, and helping at the 

 kilns to burn lime from the coral rock. And while they worked they 

 kept singing all the time, just as though they were on their own ranches. 

 Some of the governors have written books about Guam, I have heard, 

 and have called the Chamorros ingratos ; but, senor, they only received 

 what they gave — it is the nature of the Chamorros to love those who 

 treat them with affection. But here I stand talking, and not a bit of 

 meat in the house for the senor's dinner ! " 



As food is becoming scarcer every day it is apparent that something 

 must be done to regulate the consumption of island products and to en- 

 courage the natives to cultivate larger crops and to rear more fowls and 

 pigs. The island has never produced more corn, rice, and sweet potatoes 

 than are sufficient for the natives, and chickens and eggs have doubled 

 in price, and at the present rate of killing cattle there will soon be none 

 left. Although we have a good stock of tinned meats and vegetables 

 for our two ships in the harbor and the two companies of Marines at 

 Agaiia, yet they must have fresh provisions at intervals. In the base- 

 ment of the palace, among the archives of the island, there are a number 

 of letter-books containing copies of orders of many of the Spanish 

 governors. Perhaps I can find what measures they took in similar cases 

 and we may profit by their experience. So I cross the palace to look 

 over the old books, telling Susana where I may be found if my presence 

 should be needed at home. 



For some time I turn over page after page — the writing is beautiful — 

 and find nothing but reports of proper observance of saints' days, royal 

 birthdays, and fiestas. At last, however, I come to an order restricting 

 the exportation of food and another one relating to the propagation of 

 pigs and chickens and the cultivation of certain food staples. Good ! I 

 shall draw up orders somewhat similar and submit them to the Governor 

 for his approval. We may be accused of paternalism, but these people 

 are like children in some respects and need a father's care and love and 

 guidance. In an island like this, where food can be produced in such 

 abundance, there is no reason why anybody should go hungry. What 

 we want to do is to induce the natives to produce not only what they 

 require for their own needs, but a little more. If each family will do 

 this, there will be quite enough to supply the ships and battalion. I am 

 sure they will do this if they realize that it is for their own interests and 

 for that of their little ones. In other words, each family should have a 

 little capital. As it is they usually exchange what surplus food they 

 may have for articles brought by the traders, often for things of which 

 they really have no need. They say that their corn and rice will become 



