GUAM AND ITS PEOPLE. 505 



paying- the natives for their work. Most of the sweet potatoes grown 

 wert^ sold to ships, t*lie natives contentino- themselves w^ith yams and 

 taro, or breadfruit. Among the njedieinal plants brought from Mex- 

 ico was Cassia alatd^ which is still called "acapulco;" and Pithecolo- 

 hluiii (hdce^ called '■• kamachilis," was brought for the sake of its bark, 

 which is used in tanning. Coffee and cacao were introduced later, 



3£<>dei'ii agi'U-ultiirc. — Maize is cultivated in patches varying from 

 1 to 10 acres. It is planted on the highlands at the beginning of 

 the rainy season. A second crop is obtained from the lowlands in the 

 dry season. It must Ije shelled as soon as gathered, carefully dried to 

 prevent molding, and stored in large earthen jars (brought from 

 Manila, Japan, or China) for protection against weevils. In the low- 

 lands, with deep soil, the fields may be plowed. In plowing, bullocks 

 or carabaos are used, the latter preferaljly in wet places; the plow is 

 of wood, with a single handle, and tipped with iron, usualh' forged 

 by the village blacksmith from an old musket barrel. 



Coffee produces most prolitically, and in sheltercHl valleys whei'c the 

 soil is deep and rich cacao of excellent quality is grown. 



Rice is cultivated very much as in the Philippines. The crop is 

 frequenth" a failure, owing to drought or a blasting hurricane; and 

 even in good seasons the crop is insufficient for the consumption of 

 the inhabitants. It is one of the food staples of the island; and is 

 now imported from Japan and the United States. 



Taro is cultivated both in Avet and in dry ground. It is nuuh eaten 

 by the natives, as also are several species of yams. There are at least 

 four varieties of sweet potatoes. It is interesting to note that the 

 vernacular name for sweet potatoe — camote — is of American origin, 

 and is still coumionly used among the Spanish-speaking people of our 

 extreme Southwest. 



Tobacco is planted l)y nearly every family. It nuist be caivfully 

 weeded and kept free from insect larvte, the most destructive of which 

 is that of a sphinx moth. It is never cured nor allowed to ferment, 

 but is simpl}^ hung under shelter and left to dry. The natives prefer 

 their tobacco to all other kinds. They will not smoke foreign tobacco 

 unless their own gives out. It is usually smoked in the form of loosel}' 

 rolled cigars, made without paste, and wrapped with aga\(» or pine- 

 apple ffber. 



Several kinds of Leguminos;e ar(^ cultivated both for the sake of 

 their green pods and for their ripe seeds. One of the best is l^opJio- 

 cavpus tetragoti()lohi(s^ the pods of which, eatc^n green and tender, have 

 four longitudinal ruffle-like wings. Peanuts grow readily, in places 

 lining the road from Agana to the port. Mandioc and arrowroot 

 {Maranta ai'an<liiiacea) are cultivated, but not on an extensive scale; 

 and tumeric and tacca, though gi'owing wild, are sometimes [)Ianted. 



The natives ha\'e become essentially an agricnlliiral and psistoi'al 



