ETOE. 389 



Sprenjj., Liiiiodunnii /(im-IoIh Hw.) . On (lie ihmi^Ii boring island of Kota, Gaiulichaud 

 collected Nervilia ovata Gaudich. {I'offonia oiKita Lindl.). 



Oryza sativa. Rice. 



Family Poaceae. 



Local names. — Fai, Fae, Farai (Guam); Bai (Java); Pare, Pari (Snnda); Padi 



(Malay) ; Halai, Hala, Pala ( Bo.uru) ; Fala (Ceram, Amblaw) ; Fdha (Matabello) ; 



Fas (Mysol); Palai (Philippines); Paddy (British East Indies). « 



Rice was a food-staple of the natives before tlie discovery of Guam. It is among 



the products of the island mentioned by Magellan (1521), Legazpi (1565), Oliver 



van Noort (1600), and others. According to the accounts of the early navigators it 



was cultivated in many places on the island by the natives, who sold it to visiting 



ships in parcels weighing 70 to 80 i^ounus each. The Dutch complained that the 



natives were dishonest, in their dealings, for not one parcel of rice bought from them 



was found which had not been increased in weight by the addition of stones and 



sand. 



The aborigines had three kinds of rice, red (agaga), coarse-grained (basto), and a 

 fine fragrant variety, brought from the island of Rota, called by the Spanish settlers 

 "palay aromatico.," According to Don Antonio Martinez, one of the principal rice- 

 growers on the island, rice was formerly cultivated both in the flooded marshes and 

 on dry land. Now it is cultivated only in the marshes. In addition to the three 

 kinds already mentioned two Philippine varieties are now planted, called "palay 

 bianco" (white paddy) and "malaquid." 



It is interesting to note the identity of the Oiuani name for rice with names used 

 throughout the Malay Archipelago, which is shared by the East Indian word 

 "paddy." Cooked rice is called "puga," or when preceded })y the definite article, 

 " piga." This word is probaltly allied to " buas " of the sea-gypsies called Bajau, '' a 

 roaming tribe of fishermen met with in all parts of the Malay Archipelago. 



At present rice is cultivated in Guam very much as in the Philippines. The land 

 is generally prepared during the month of August or September or in the early part 

 of October, and at the same time the seedlings are grown and gotteu ready for trans- 

 planting. Transplanting takes place in October, November, or December and the 

 grain matures about five months later. As the water supply comes from rain-fed 

 streams the cultivation of rice is attended with considerable uncertainty. It is not 

 unusual for droughts or blasting winds to cause the loss of the entire crop. As the 

 time of the harvest approaches the prevailing winds are from the north, and they 

 sometimes cause great damage to the rice fields which are exposed to them. Near 

 Inalahan they are protected by the mountains to the northward. On the Inalahan 

 vega the planting may be postponed even until January, so that the grain may form 

 at the end of March, when the northerly winds have somewhat subsided. 



The fields are leveled by means of a scraper (rastra). It is unnecessary to puddle 

 the soil, as it will retain the water without difficulty. The area to be cultivated is 

 divided into small fields separated by banks about a half meter high, to confine the 

 water. Where the land slopes it is formed into terraces, arranged in such a manner 

 as io govern the flow of water. 



The seed is soaked in water for twelve hours, after which it is taken out and left 

 tliree or four days, when it begins to sprout. It is then planted in a semillero, or 

 nursery, which is surrounded l)y a ditch of water to protect it from ants and other 

 crawling insects. When the seedlings are about 6 or 8 inches high they are 

 transplanted into the fields, or squares, prepared for them. The plants are set out 



«The vernacular names here given are ai)|)lied to the unhusked rice. Throughout 

 the Malay Archipelago and in India distinct names are ajiplied to rice after it is 

 husked and to cooked rice, just as in English we distinguish between maize, hominy, 

 and pone. 



^ See Wallace, Malay Archipelago, pp. 621 and 607, 1869. 



