GUAM AND ITS PEOPLE." 



l^v AV. E. Saffoki). 



The Marianne Ishuuls, or Ladrones, form a chain about 420 miles 

 long in a north and .south din^ction and lying about four days' run Iw 

 steamer to the eastward of the Philippines. More definitely speaking, 

 they extend from 18 ' 14' to 20' 30' north latitude and lie between 

 142 ;-)!' and 143" 40' east long'itude. They are of voleanie origin and 

 are surrounded by eoral reefs. In the northern islands there arc^ a 

 num])er of volcanoes in full activity, but in the south volcanic action 

 had ceased long before their discovery. 



(luam, the largest and most important member of the group, is the 

 only island belonging to the United States, the remainder having been 

 sold by Spain to Germany after the close of the late war. It is at the 

 extreme south of the chain and at present has a population of t>,r)76.'' 

 The island is of irregular shape and is about 21) miles long from north- 

 northeast to south-southwest. At its narrowest part, near the middle, 

 it is less than 4 miles across; near the ends the breadth is from T to 

 miles. 



The northern |)()rti()n ot" the island consists of a mesa, or plateau, an 

 ancient coral reef, elevated al)out 150 feet above the sea level, with 

 one or two peaks of no great height extending through it. It is with 

 out streams or springs, owing to the porous nature of the coral, except 

 in the immediate vicinity of th(^ peaks referred to, where in the wet 

 season there is for a time a supply of water. Near the middle t)f the 

 island, m the inunediate vicinity of Agana, the ca[)ital, there is a large 

 spring from which a copious sup])ly of water issues. This, after slowly 

 oozing through an extensive swamp — an ancient lagoon tinds its way 

 into the sea by means of a river, the channel of which las been 

 artiticially lengthened and turned for a mile parallel to the c nist for 

 the convenience of the natives. The southern portion of the island is 

 principally of volcanic formation, with several peaks which scarcel}' 

 exceed a thousand feet in height. It contains a number of streams, 



f' Reprinted by permission, after revision by the anther, from the American 

 Anthropologist (N.S. ), vol. 4, October-December, 1902. See also "The Chamorro 

 language of (juam," by the same author, in American Anthn)])(il()gist (N. 8.), vol. 5, 

 pp. 289 ff. 



^This numl)er refers to the actual residents (if the island and does not include 

 visitors nor the United States forces stationed there. The figures are taken from the 

 census of 1901, and were kindly communicated to me by Don Pedro Duarte, late 

 captain in the Spanish army, now a resident of the island. 



49;; 



