238 FROM THE ST. LAWRENCE ISLANDS 



The way we rode was narrow, but very beauti- 

 ful ; the mountains lay to our right, varied with 

 picturesque scenery. We rode through palm 

 bushes, and sometimes through a wild but roman- 

 tic country, in which we admired the variety and 

 luxuriance of the vegetable kingdom. When the 

 sun set, the moon guided us on our way ; in this 

 light, the unknown trees and bushes made a singu- 

 lar impression on us, and we often fancied that we 

 saw a monster at a distance, which, when we ap- 

 proached it, changed into a sago palm. The air 

 had become cooler, I therefore put spurs to my 

 horse, the gentlemen follow^ed on their mules, and 

 at eight o'clock in the evening, after passing 

 through two other villages, we arrived at Agana, 

 at Wilson's house, where we dressed ourselves, to 

 pay our respects to the Governor, Don Joseph 

 Medinilla y Pineda, captain-general of the Ma- 

 rianes or Ladrones, who received us in full uni- 

 form, and with the greatest politeness. After I 

 had acquainted him with the object of my voyage, 

 and had told him that I landed here with the hope 

 of obtaining fresh provisions, he promised, with the 

 greatest readiness, to provide me with every thing 

 the season of the year produced, and regretted that 

 it was not now the time of fruit, which was there 

 in abundance. He immediately gave me a proof 

 of his desire to serve me, by ordering his aide-de- 

 camp to send to the Rurick, at break of day, fresh 

 meat, fruit, and vegetables, and daily to supply 

 17 



