THE LADKONE OK MARIANNE ISLANDS ODD 



between 70° and 80° Pahr. The country near Agana in 

 Guam is said to afford views which cannot be excelled for 

 beauty, and the vegetation is exuberant. Maize, tobacco, 

 and sugar are the chief crops, but cotton, coffee, rice, 

 cocoa, and Manila hemp are also grown, and the coco-palm 

 is abundant. There is, however, no exportation, for the 

 islands lie far from ordinary trade routes and are rarely 

 visited. Little is known either of the fauna or flora. Deer 

 are numerous, especially on Saipan, and cattle, hogs, and 

 fowls have run wild on Tinian for more than a century. 

 No snakes are known, but rats, probably of late introduc- 

 tion, are numerous, and there is a peculiar species of 

 Pteropus. 



The chain begins in the north with Farallon de Pajaros, 

 an active volcano about 1000 feet in height, and is 

 succeeded by the three rocky islets known as the Urracas. 

 Assumption, a very striking volcanic peak rising sharply 

 from the water to the height of 2848 feet, is partially 

 active. Agrigan, about 7 miles in length, and exceedingly 

 rugged and mountainous, is the first inhabited island. 

 Pagan is said to have no less than three active cones, but 

 it is nevertheless peopled by a few natives, who have large 

 coco-nut plantations. Five islands follow, Alamagan, 

 Guguan, Sariguan, Anataxan, and Farallon de Medinilla, 

 all of which are uninhabited. The islands farther south 

 are larger and more fertile. Saipan is nearly 15 miles 

 in length, and has a population of about 1000 persons. 

 According to M. Marche, who explored it a few years 

 ago, it has no sign of volcanic action. Tinian, the next 

 island, was at one time the most populous of the group, 

 and is said to have had 30,000 inhabitants; but when 

 Anson visited it in 1742 to recuperate his scurvy-stricken 

 crew, he found it utterly deserted. It is now inhabited 

 by about 300 natives, and serves, like Molokai in the 



