FRUITS. 145 



places on the island. Yams are more difficult to cultivate than taro, 

 and are therefore not planted so commonly by the natives. 



Sweet potatoes are far superior to the best varieties of yams and of 

 taro. The natives grow them principall}^ to suppl}" visiting ships. 

 Several varieties occur in Guam. Unlike the yams and taro, which 

 grew on the island l)efore the discovery, sweet potatoes were intro- 

 duced ])y the Spaniards. One variety' was brought from the island of 

 Agrigan, where it had been introduced by settlers from the Hawaiian 

 Islands. 



Among other plants with starch-bearing roots are the indigenous 

 Tacca jylniuiti^da, or Pol^'nesian arrowroot; the true arrowroot 

 {Maranta arundlnacea^ PI. XXV); and the mandioc plant {Mcmlhot 

 manlliot^ PI. XXVI), which vields cassava and tapioca. 



Starchy fruits. — The principal starchy fruits are those of the 

 sterile breadfruit (^4r?^6'««y^?/.s' conununis^ PL XXVII), called " lemae" 

 or "rima" by the natives, and the well-known plantain {Jfiisa para- 

 dlslaca). Of the plantain there are several varieties. The fruit difiers 

 from that of the banana in being starchy instead of sweet, and it must 

 be cooked before eating. When baked it has somewhat the taste and 

 consistenc}^ of a potato, but is inferior to it in flavor. 



As both the breadfruit and plantain are seedless the}^ must be prop- 

 agated by suckers. This is readily done with both plants. They 

 both grow with little care and produce abundantly in Guam. As the 

 breadfruit is in season only during certain months of the year, some of 

 the natives lay in a store of it for the rest of the year by slicing it and 

 diT iiig or toasting it in ovens, making a kind of biscuit of it which 

 they call " biscocho de lemae." If kept dry this will last indefinitely 

 and may be eaten either without further preparation or cooked in 

 various waj^s. It is fine food for taking on a journey, as it is light and 

 convenientl}' carried. 



Squashes and pumpkins are grown, but they do not occupy a promi- 

 nent place in the econoni}" of the natives. 



The nuts of the Cycas chcinalis, called "fadan" by the Chamorros 

 and "federiko" by the Filipinos, yield a nutritious starch. As these 

 nuts are poisonous in their crude condition, there has been considera]>le 

 prejudice against them on the part of some of the Spanish governors 

 of the island. In other countries, however, a fine sago, or arrowroot, 

 is made from them, which is declared to be superior to that made from 

 the pith of sago palms. 



It is remarkable that the "Polj'nesian chestnut" {Bocoa edulis), so 

 widely spread over the Pacific, is not included in the Guam flora. 



Tree fruits. — The principal fruits are oranges, bananas, mangoes 

 (PI. XXVIII), and sugar apples {Aimona squammosa), all of which are 

 of tine quality. In the vicinity of Agat and the harbor of San Luis de 

 9773—05 10 



