1 LU rSKKUL I'LAN'I'S oF (if AM. 



cttchhtifiiiii). \\n(\ others prettily \ arie^ated with \vhit(> (vbv^//V/ (/ail- 

 fniflri). I*esi(h's fiiiit trees, such as h'liioiis, limes, j)oinoi»Tjmatos, 

 s()iirs()|)>. and siitiar apph's, there are shrubs, vines, and tr(>os pri/ed 

 i'oi- the fi'airi'Jinec of their Mowers sueh as Lawsonia. Tcdosnia (Pergu- 

 laria). ami ilanii"ihui*i'. 



Hanehos \ary in size i'l'oni .simple huts, intended for the temporary" 

 shelter of one oi- two ])ersons attendinj^' to adjoininy- ])atches of culti- 

 vation, to well-built permanent dwtdlinus lari^'e enough for a whole 

 family. A (jlatof yi'ound after havine- b(>en cultivated for foui" or live 

 years is often abandoned and allowed to lie fallow a few years. Tnder 

 these conditions it woidd not pa}' to erect iM'rmanent habitations on 

 the mesa. The usual form of a small rancho is that of a shed with 

 walls of woven reeds, coconut leaves, or s|)lit band)oos and a coconut- 

 thatched roof with eaves projecting- sufficiently to keep the rain from 

 coming in through the cracks. Half tlu^ hut is taken up by a plat- 

 form of split bamboo, raised about 2 feet froiu the ground. This is the 

 family b(Ml. Beneath it are penned up each night the youngest broods 

 of chickens with their luothei's, to protect them from rats, cats, and 

 liztirds. The larger fowls fl\' to the spreading limbs of a neighboring- 

 tree (the site for a rancho is alwavs selected neai' a suitable roosting 

 tree), or upon the ridge of the roof, or perhaps on some convenient 

 perch in the hut itself, where there are always four or five setting hens 

 in baskets hung on the posts. Sometimes the whole family remains 

 at the rancho during the week, returning to town on Saturday so that 

 their owners may be ready for early mass the next morning. On Sat- 

 urday evening a procession of ox carts a mile long may be .seen en 

 route to the capital. 



The}^ have little furniture. In homes of the ])etter sort are usually 

 found tables and benches of itil wood, cane-bottomed beds, a few chairs, 

 and almost invariably an altar with the image of a saint enshrined 

 above it, before which a light of cocoanut oil is kept burning, A feAV 

 homes have handsome beds, tables, and chairs from the Philippines 

 left behind b}- Spani.sh officials. Hon)es of the poorer kinds are desti- 

 tute of bedsteads or tables, the natives sleeping and sometimes eating 

 from mats on the floor. 



USEFUL ARTS. 



Though it ma}^ be said that all the natives of Guam are essential!}^ 

 farmers, yet many of them show decided aptitude for various kinds 

 of handiwork. In Agaiia there are excellent blacksmiths, silversmiths, 

 carpenters, cabinetmaker!^, tanners, and shoemakers, and fairl}^ good 

 masons. In other parts of the island there are men skilled in lime 

 and charcoal burning. A number of the women are adepts at weaving- 

 mats and hats of excellent ({uality from pandanus leaves; men twi.st 

 string and make nets of pineapple fiber and ropes from hibiscus l)ark. 



