THE LADR0NE OR MARIANNE ISLANDS 
555 
between 70° and 80° Fahr. The country near Agana in 
Guam is said to afford views which cannot be excelled for 
beauty, and the vegetation is exuberant. Maize, tobacco, 
and sugar are the chief crops, but cotton, coffee, rice, 
cocoa, and Manila hemp are also grown, and the coco-palm 
is abundant. There is, however, no exportation, for the 
islands lie far from ordinary trade routes and are rarely 
visited. Little is known either of the fauna or flora. Deer 
are numerous, especially on Saipan, and cattle, hogs, and 
fowls have run wild on Tinian for more than a century. 
No snakes are known, but rats, probably of late introduc¬ 
tion, are numerous, and there is a peculiar species of 
Pteropus. 
The chain begins in the north with Farallon de Pajaros, 
an active volcano about 1000 feet in height, and is 
succeeded by the three rocky islets known as the Urracas. 
Assumption, a very striking volcanic peak rising sharply 
from the water to the height of 2848 feet, is partially 
active. Agrigan, about 7 miles in length, and exceedingly 
rugged and mountainous, is the first inhabited island. 
Pagan is said to have no less than three active cones, but 
it is nevertheless peopled by a few natives, who have large 
coco-nut plantations. Five islands follow, Alamagan, 
Guguan, Sariguan, Anataxan, and Farallon de Medinilla, 
all of which are uninhabited. The islands farther south 
are larger and more fertile. Saipan is nearly 15 miles 
in length, and has a population of about 1000 persons. 
According to M. Marche, who explored it a few years 
ago, it has no sign of volcanic action. Tinian, the next 
island, was at one time the most populous of the group, 
and is said to have had 30,000 inhabitants; but when 
Anson visited it in 1742 to recuperate his scurvy-stricken 
crew, he found it utterly deserted. It is now inhabited 
by about 300 natives, and serves, like Molokai in the 
