ADMINISTRATION OF TOBIAS. 23 



archives. The spiritual administration of the islands was handed over 

 to friars of the order of St. Augustine, who had come as passengers 

 on the schooner hringing the decree. This religious order continued 

 on the island until its seizure by the United States. 



cbozet's visit. 



The next governor of the Mariannes, Don Mariano Tobias, has been 

 immortalized by the Abb^ Eaynal in his Histoire et politique des 6tab- 

 lissements et du commerce des Europeens dans les deux Indes. Kaynal 

 hated the tyranny and injustice with which primitive nations were so 

 often treated, and believed that the rights of individuals should be 

 considered even though their skins might be brown and their clothing 

 scant. He called attention to glaring acts of cruelty and oppression 

 perpetrated by European nations upon the natives of newly colonized 

 countries. In consequence of his bold accusations his book was 

 condemned to be burned (May 29, 1781), and he was obliged to fly 

 from France. 



An interesting account of the island during Tobias's administration 

 is given by Crozet, who visited Guam September 27, 1772."' Crozet 

 was an officer of the expedition of the French navigator Marion- 

 Dufresne, which left Mauritius on a voyage of discovery in the South 

 Seas. On June 8, 1772, Marion was killed and eaten by natives of 

 New Zealand by whom he and his men had been invited ashore to a 

 feast. The Chevalier du Clesmeur, who commanded one of the vessels, 

 left seeds of a number of useful plants at Guam. Among them were 

 those of Oajan cajan, which has ever since been called "lenteja 

 francesa" by the natives. Crozet describes the breadfruit tree, the 

 manner of its propagation by cuttings, and the preparation of its fruit 

 for food. He noticed that cattle are very fond of its leaves. He 

 speaks of the edible chestnut-like seeds of the "dugdug," or fertile 

 breadfruit, and mentions the principal fruits growing on the island. 

 Guavas already formed thickets in open places. The indigenous capers 

 growing near the sea attracted him by the beauty and fragrance of 

 their flowers. They had already been transplanted to the Philippines. 

 Provisions were so plentiful that it was not necessary to fish, though 

 the French sailors caught some fresh-water fishes, including eels, in 

 the streams of the island. These were held in less esteem by the 

 natives than salt-water fish. Crozet says that Tobias had stimulated 

 the natives to cultivate their fields, which they had neglected owing to 

 the importation of breadstuff for the missionaries and garrison by the 

 galleons from Mexico. He attributes the introduction of the cultiva- 

 tion of maize, rice, sugar cane, and other useful plants to Tobias, who 

 also planted avenues of coconut palms and breadfruit trees four deep 



oNouveau Voyage. See List of works. 



