GUAM AND IT- I'KOI'LK. oTlT 



foi- ii laiifho is alwa\'.s .selected near a suitable roo.stinjr trcM), or upon 

 the v\dtr(; of the roof, or per-Kip.s on some convenif-nt pfroh in the hut 

 itself, where there are alwavsfoui''or five sc.'ttini^ hf-ns in baskets huiij^- 

 on the posts. Sometimes the whole family remains on the rancho 

 during- the week. returnin<( to the town on Saturday eve-ning, when a 

 proeession of ox carts a mile Ion;.'- tnay always be seen en I'oute to the 

 capital, so tliat thcii' owner- may be ready foi" cai'iy nia>.- th*- next 

 morning. 



There are few masters and few servant- in (juam. A-, a lule. the 

 farm is not too extensive to be cultivated b\' the family, all of whom, 

 even the little children, lend a hand. Often the owners of neighbor- 

 ing" farms work together in comnmnal fashion, one day on A*s corn, the 

 next on B's, and so on, laughing, singing, and skylarking at their work, 

 and stopping whenever they feel like it to take a drink of tuba from a 

 neigli boring cocoanut tree. Each does his share without constrairtt, 

 nor will one indulge so freely in tuba as to incapacitate himself for 

 work; for experience has taught the necessity of temperance, and 

 every one must do his share if the sen'ices are to be reciprc^cal. liy 

 the time the 3'oung men have finished their round, the weeds are (piite 

 high enough once more in A*s corn to require attention again. In the 

 evening the}' separate, each going to his own rancho to feed his bulloek, 

 p'i'^^, and chickens; and after a good supper they lie down for the 

 night <jn a Pandanns mat spread over the elastic platform of s{>jit 

 bamboo. 



If wealth consists in the abilit\' to gratify one's wants, the people 

 of Guam may be called rich; and were it not for the frerjuent occur- 

 rence of hurricanes life on the island would be almost ideal. None 

 of the natives depends for his livelihood on either c-onmierce or a 

 trade. There are men who can make shoes, tan leather, and cut 

 stone for building purposes, but such a thing as a shoemaker, tanner, 

 or mason who supports his family by his trade is unknown. In the 

 midst of building a stone wall, the native who has consented to help 

 do the work will probably sa\': " Excase me, Senor, but 1 must go to 

 my rancho for three or four days; the weeds are getting ahead of my 

 corn." And when one wishes to get some lime, the native to whom 

 he goes for it may sav: "'After I have finished gathering my cocoa- 

 nuts for copra I will get my boys to cut wood and make a kiln. 

 Never fear, Senor, j'ou shall liave the lime within six weeks." 



The result of this condition of societv is that when a father dies the 

 wife and children are not left destitute, as would be the case if they 

 depended on the results of his handiwork alone. The crops continue 

 to ripen and are gathered in due time by the family; the ^eeds and 

 worms are kept out of the tobacco; the coffee bushes bend each year 

 undei- their weight of berries, and the cocoanuts, as asual. yield their 

 annual dividend.. Indeed, in most cases the annual income in pro- 



