18 USEFUL PLANTS OF GUAM. 



Dampier's accurate descriptions of the breadfruit and the coconut 

 are given further on, in the Alphabetical list of useful plants, under 

 the headings Artocarpus communis and Cocos nuclfera. Of the bread- 

 fruit he says: a 



I did never see of this Fruit any where but here. The Natives told us, that there 

 is plenty of this Fruit growing on the rest of the Ladrone Islands; but I did never 

 hear of it anywhere else. 



And of the coconuts he says: 6 



These at Guam grow in dry ground, are of a middle size, and I think the sweetest 

 that I did ever taste. 



Dampier relates that when the natives were repulsed by the Span- 

 iards in the recent uprising they destroyed the plantations and stock, 

 and those implicated in the conspiracy then went to other islands. As 

 for the remaining ones, if they were not actually concerned in that 

 broil, yet their hearts were also bent against the Spaniards, for they 

 offered to carry the Englishmen to the fort and assist them in the con- 

 quest of the island; but Captain Swan was not for molesting the Span- 

 iards here, as it was to his interest to use the island as a base for 

 supplies. At this time there were at Guam only the governor, twenty 

 or thirty Spanish soldiers, and two or three priests. 



Captain Swan detained a priest who came off to visit his ship, and 

 requested him to write a letter to the governor stating that the English 

 had come to the island not in any hostile manner, but as friends to 

 purchase with their money what they wanted. He sent a present to 

 the governor of 4 yards of scarlet cloth and a piece of silver and gold 

 lace. The governor replied to the letter at once, complimenting Cap- 

 tain Swan for his present and promising as much provision as he could 

 possibly spare. 



As a token of his gratitude he sent a present of 6 Hogs of a small sort, most excel- 

 lent Meat, the best I think that ever I eat [says Dampier] . They are fed with Coco- 

 nuts, and their flesh is hard as Brisket Beef. They were doubtless of that breed in 

 America which came originally from Spain. He sent also 12 Muskmelons, larger than 

 ours in England, and as many Water-melons, both sorts here being a very excellent 

 Fruit; and sent an order to the Indians that lived in a Village not far from our Ship, 

 to bake every day as much of the Bread-fruit as we did desire, and to assist us in 

 getting as many dry Coco-nuts as we would have; which they accordingly did, and 

 brought off the Bread-fruit every day hot, as much as we could eat. After this the 

 Governour sent every day a Canoa or two with Hogs and Fruit, and desired for the 

 same Powder, Shot, and Arms; which was sent according to his request. * * * 



The 30th day of May, the Governour sent his last Present, which was some Hogs, 

 a Jar of pickled Mangoes, a Jar of excellent pickled Fish, and a Jar of fine Rusk, or 

 Bread of fine Wheat Flower, baked like Bisket, but not so hard. He sent besides, 6 

 or 7 packs of Rice, desiring to be excused from sending any more Provision to us, 

 saying he had no more on the Island that he could spare. He sent word also, that 

 the West Monsoon was at hand, that therefore it behooved us to be jogging from 



A new Voyage Round the World, p. 297, 1717. 

 &0p. cit., p. 296. 



