INSECTS. 



93 



Guam. a This is probably false, since the vernacular names of these 

 insects in Guam are etymologically identical with the names of the 

 same insects through the greater part of Melanesia, Polynesia, and New 

 Zealand, and have evidently the same origin as the modern Malayan. 



The common Malay word for fly is "lala," yet "langau" is also 

 used. In New Zealand either "ngaro" or "range" is used, and the 

 first form is etymologically identical with the Hawaiian "nalo." Evi- 

 dently the aborigines of Guam, in common with the inhabitants of 

 most of the Pacific islands, were familiar with flies, mosquitoes, and 

 lice before the arrival of the Spaniards. On the other hand, it is 

 probable that fleas and bedbugs were introduced, as there are no Cha- 

 morro words for these insects. In Samoa the flea is called "Fijian 

 louse." In Codrington's comparative vocabulary of the Melanesian 

 languages it is not given. It is interesting to note in this connection 

 that in Hawaii, where the approximate date of the introduction of 

 the mosquito is known, there is no Hawaiian name for it, and in New 

 Zealand its name is of independent origin and is quite distinct from 

 the common Malayan and Polynesian forms. 



Mosquitoes are very troublesome both day and night in Guam. The 

 day-flying species avoids the sunlight, but makes life a burden in the 

 shade. All Europeans sleep under mosquito nets, and the natives 

 habitually make a smudge in their houses after dark to smoke out the 

 night-flying species. This is effective if the lights in the house are 

 first extinguished and not relighted. 



Fleas are not common; the climate is probably too damp for them 

 to flourish. The author passed a year on the island without seeing 

 either a flea or a bedbug. Neither do lice appear to be abundant. 

 This may be owing to the habit of the natives of frequently washing 

 the hair with soap oranges and bergamots. 



a Ces Europeans " veulent nous persuader qu'ils nous rendent heureux, et plusieurs 

 d'entre nous sont assez aveugles pour lea en croire sur leur parole. Mais pourrions- 

 nous avoir ces sentimens, si nous faisions reflexion qtie nous ne sommes accablez de 

 miseres et de maladies, que depuis que ces etrangers sont venus nous desoler et 

 troubler notre repos. Avant leur arrivee dans ces isles, scavions-nous ceque c'etoitque 

 toutes ces insectes qui nous persecutent si cruel lenient? Connoissions-nous les rats, 

 les souris, les mouches, les mosquites, et tous ces autres petits animaux, qui ne sont 

 au monde que pour nous tourmenter? Voila les beaux pre"sens qu'ils nous ont faits, 

 et que leurs machines flotantes nous ont apportez!" (Le Gobien, Charles. Histoire 

 des isles Mariannes, nouvellement converties a la religion Chre"tienne, p. 141, Paris, 

 1700.) 



