144 THK PLANT WORIvD 



Thursday, January 18. — To-day paid thirty-one pesos to the Sacristan 

 Mayor for the piece of land I bought from him day before yesterday. It 

 adjoins my Didigue property, and consists of a point of land extending 

 into the "Cienaga," or Swamp, bordering the river. I wanted it for 

 planting taro in the marshy part, mangos and other trees requiring 

 moisture on the edge of the swamp, and coconuts and other trees on the 

 higher land. At present it is overgrown with a thicket of Inga trees, 

 lemoncito, and other brush, and on the margin several clumps of spiny 

 bamboo. It will take some time to clear it. 



My orderly brought me some branches to-day of a second species of 

 Clerodendron, called like the common one, which has been continuously 

 in bloom since our arrival, " Lodugao." This species has a fruity odor 

 and has narrow lanceolate leaves. It is not now in bloom. It is said to 

 be medicinal and is very bitter. 



At four o'clock went to look at a ranch situated on the eastern side 

 of the Cienaga. Turning up the hill from San Antonio, continued to the 

 southward. Saw a number of people on the road, one a little girl who 

 calls me her novio, a dear little thing who on Sundays goes to church 

 wearing a dress with a long train, and a white handkerchief on her head, 

 a short white jacket with wide flowing sleeves ; she looks as quaint as 

 the children painted by Van Dyck and Velasquez. Found that the peo- 

 ple were going to the ranch of Don Reducindo de San Nicolas, where 

 every January a ' ' novena ' ' is celebrated in honor of Nuestra Senora de la 

 Concepcion. Arrived at the ranch, situated near the road. About it 

 fine coffee plants growing. Door of house wide open, showing altar with 

 many candles on it and an image of the Virgin. In front of house an 

 arch of bamboo. Yard in front of house clean ; ground covered with 

 coconut leaves, on which the people assisting at the novena were to 

 kneel. I went toward the old ladies who were apparently receiving the 

 guests, recognizing my friend Doiia Antonia Perez. I said: "Good 

 afternoon, ladies. You have not invited me to the novena ; but you see 

 I have come notwithstanding. ' ' They all came up and shook hands with 

 me, one of them saying that I was indeed welcome ; that they all con- 

 sidered me as the head of one great family and themselves my children ; 

 and that everybody in Guam was saying that I was working for the real 

 good and happiness of the Chamorros. 



After shaking hands all around again went on our way. Turned to 

 right toward the river — corn field, patch of sweet potatoes growing well, 

 tobacco pretty fair. Reached ranch near which for the first time I saw 

 cactus growing in Guam, a species of prickly pear, or Opuntia, called 

 here " I^engua de Vaca." Introduced, but not well established. This 

 ranch belongs to Felix de Leon y Palomo and his son-in-law Felix Mani- 

 busan. The prickly pear I was informed had been brought from Father 



