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 principally to supply visiting ships. 

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

 grew on the island before the discovery, sweet potatoes were intro- 

 duced by 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 pinnatifida, or Polynesian arrowroot; the true arrowroot 

 {Maranta arundinacea, PI. XXV); and the mandioc plant (Manihot 

 manihot, PL XXVI), which yields cassava and tapioca. 



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

 sterile breadfruit (Artocarpus communis, PI. XXVII), called "lemae" 

 or "rima" by the natives, and the well-known plantain (Musa para- 

 disiaca). Of the plantain there are several varieties. The fruit differs 

 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 

 consistency of a potato, but is inferior to it in flavor. 



As both the breadfruit and plantain are seedless they 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 

 drying 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 ways. It is fine food for taking on a journey, as it is light and 

 conveniently carried. 



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

 nent place in the economy of the natives. 



The nuts of the Cycas circmalw, 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 considerable 

 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 "Polynesian 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 {Annona squammosa), all of which are 

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

 9773—05 10 



