Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-03-10
STRANGE LANDS.
Lie Among the People OF the Marienne
Isles

me most northerly of the Australasian
uroups, were discovered by Magellan in 1921
and from the thievish propensities of the
inhabitants, he called them la Ladreues. >
Later,the name Marienne Isles. was adjusted.
having more agreeable sound to the now
civilized natives who call themselves
Chimoro's. Situated between the thirteenth
ana sixteenth parallels Of north latitude and
receiving as they do the fnll benefit of the
northeast trade winds the people can right
fully lay claim to a climate admirably suited
to the lame and lazy Guam is the principle
port and seat of government, and supports a
regiment of native soldiers, differed by
opaniards, who take the first opportunity to
impress upon the strangers mind, that they
are not natives of these islands but are of pure
and unauthorized Castillian blood. A fort.
mounting dozen guns overlooks the town
and the flag Of Spain proudly floats above its
granite walls. The troups are inspected
every Sunday, aud woe to the poor
Gilmore whose equipments are not in
first-class condition. Other islands of i'm
poriance are Saypan, Rota and Tinian. On
the mountains Of the latter hundreds of wild
cattle grow fat on the luxnrant grasses, their
pure white skins against the dark green back
ground making perfect target for the gov
eminent hunter who under penalty of severe
punishment, selects the bulls only and rarely
misses shot His aids quickly remove the
hide and with their 'machetas" deity separate
the flesh from the bone and making it into
-. -
cut in thin strips, dried In the sun, packed
in boxes made of the hide and with the horns
that the officials may know the sex of the
animal slain-shipped to Guam and much of
it thence to Manila. If the cattle are all
white the hogs are all black, a. shade that in
my opinion does not enhance the beauty of
this animal even under favorable circum-
stances. But if man unthinkingly
appropriates a weak old porker, whose
parents seriously object to the confiscation
Of their offspring and answer its cries with
every bristle erect and an ''ough" of de-
fiance, my advice is (and | know whereof |
speak to ''drap the pig and climb" These
hogs are hunted with dogs which bother the
brute until the hunter necessarily an active
fellow, sees a chance and runs his ''maeheta"
through and through him. The dressing is
very simple. The Offal is removed and the |
bristles are burned off over brisk fire all
being accomplished in little more time than !
it takes TO tell it. Cock fighting is the chief
sport, and Sunday afternoons at four O'Clock
the high and low, rich and poor, gather at the |
cock pit and bet their reals" on their favor |
ties. The gamiest birds are invariably those
captured from among the thousands of wild
fowl that breed and thrive among the tangled
growth of the low lands, and lucky is he who
mos a ttVn aiI II IT
for he can be depended on to win
few battles and "mucho pesos"
for his owner Wild goats are numerous, and
although used as food are not particularly
desirable. Wthal. Tman is "A vertable |
farmyard, eight miles long and six in width, |
jealousy guarded by His Excellency, the |
Governor, who, for certain privileges and
twelve Spanish dollars per month, is supposed
to deal honestly with the government that
employs him. These islands are surrounded
by extensive coral reefs and sixty feet above |
high water mark, banks of small sea shells
show that nature is slowly but surely working |
wonders quarter of a mile from the set
Element almost entirely concealed by the
dense tropical verdurc, are the ruins of a
church. consisting OF four granite posts, one
nearly twelve feet in height, presumably the
corner stones of place of worship, built by
this daring navigator and his sturdy follow
ers more than $50 years ago.
A considerable quantity of cOcoanut oil is
made in this and other islands by natives of
the Carolnes who have been brought here
for that purpose The nut is bruised with
stones and placed in wooden troughs to try |
out" in the sun. The coconut palms here
grow to great perfection, reaching often
times a height of 81 feet and yielding as
many ns ifty prrfpct nuts each year. Lem |