Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-08-19

The air was balmy and loaded with tn
perfumes OF lines and Towering shrubs
| while clumps OF bananas, OCCASIONAL co
| coanut palms, and feathery bamboo al
| combined TO make the scene most charm
ing: but the swift dart OF a snake, th'
| enveloping meshes OF gigantic and poison
| Gus spiders las large as small walnut
| the threads OF their webs strong enough
| to ensnare small birds), with an occasion
al acquaintance with scorpions ana cen
tIpedes when we ventured to rest on some
! fallen tree, taught us forcibly that under
| this beautiful prospect death lurked in it,
most dangerous forms. Continuing oul
course, we came to a beautiful lagoon
fringed with palm and cocoanut trees. Al
one of these our friends stopped. and
pointing to a long piece OF bamboo at
tached to 1t about thirty feet from the
butt, said Very good drink, these A com
| panion mounted to the bamboo and de-
| tached II from the tree and brought II
down. There was about two quarts OF
| liquid In ii of a pale color. Pouring some
into a small gourd he handed it to one of
the men, who was rather suspicious at
first; but the taste seemed TO please him.
for with an ejaculation of Stunning he
emptied the gourd, and we all followed
suit. 1 though it delicious, cool, sweet
and lightly effervescing. The Indians call
ed II today This teddy so affected our
men that they afterward had frequent
quarrels with the Indians, and / for one
was glad when the time came for US to
80 away"
The departure, which is described I'm
detail, was made in a fleet of the open
sailing canoes of the Caroline Islanders
who arrived on one of their regular
voyages, and after a night and a day
of sailing, during which the naked Caro-
liners offered their wives and property
to the gods in exchange for fine weather,
they landed safely on the Island of Rota,
100 miles from Tinian, bearing letters to
the Governor from Don Diego. Mr..
Miles gives this description of Rota:
Like Tinian. this island looked as a
green gem rising out of the ocean, but
its coast was not so bold, we could see
its beaches lined by palm trees and signs
of far more cultivation than Tinian. Be
ing now under the lee of the land. the
sea became smooth and we neared the
settlement quickly. / now saw there was
group of black men standing around
what appeared to be a white man dress
ed in a blue uniform very much the
worse for wear his sword by his side.
He was the Governor, Don Joachim, a
lieutenant in the Spanish army. Three
other dark, half-caste men, armed with
musket and bayonet, stood near him, and
as we landed looked at us white men in
a most menacing manner. In fact, we
were in rather an awkward position.
Here were five Englishmen landing on
the island quite Unexpectedly as We
were the bearers Of our own introduction
Seeing we were unarmed and ragged, the
officer withdrew his men, and our Sc
cond officer, stepping forward (amid a
babel of talk from the canoemen), hand
ed out the Tinian letter. Don Joachlm's
lace cleared, and. shaking hands with
the mate and me, said in broken English.
You are welcome
I'VE were taken at once into the Gov
ernors house, where two men were on |
guard, one of whom surprised us by say
ing: How do, Jack? We speak the Eng |
ish very much The mate entered into a |
lively conversation with Don Joachim |
who said that he should send us away In |
the evening to Guam with a letter where,
lie said, there was a grand Governor and |
plenty Of soldiers. Don Joachim was a far
more refined man than the Tinian Gov
rnor, but could not excel him in kind |
less. He told us there were several pri-
oners on his island, soldiers who had |
'een in a conspiracy, wanting TO Kill the
queen of Spain. They were well treated
'ut to-day they had chains put upon
hem when the canoes were seen coming;
hat was always the custom. He said after
We had our dinner he would send Carlos
the English speaker to show us around
he settlement If the mate would promise
zone OF US should speak to the prisoners
we met them. The promise was willing
y given. We were very curious TO see the
risoners If possible, and after some hest
alton Carlos promised 10 show US the
risOn, and, turning into an avenue of
we came upon a large log-built
uilding. where he said the prisoners were
ept when the canoes came. He hurried
s quickly away toward a plantation OF
indian corn ana sweet potatoes. edged
With lime bushes when, to our surprise
nd greatly to his, we came right on a
arty of four Europeans, fine stalwart
len. They had chains on their wrists.
nd were connected together. We saw at
nee they were some of the prisoners.
hey looked upon us in astonishment. but
{ word from Carlos they turned sharp
round and disappeared"
That evening the sailors set out for
uam with a letter to the Governor. and
fter night of sailing came in sight OF II.
GAS we neared Guam" Mr.. Miles
rites, I'VE could see a populous town
it'll large stone buildings and churches.
lille some Notifications showed that the
land was defended. Long rows Of houses
I'd pretty little villas, all of wood could
w be seen. the latter built on the
ies Of a hill and glistenng white i'm the {
nshine. As we drew i'm close to the !
ore we could see a number Of monde E
ript soldiers drawn up in line, while a H.
ry-looking cavalier was riding I'D and )
wn the line and occasionally rapping \
me unfortunate fellow with the fiat of a
5 sword. AS soon as we landed we /
IRE surrounded by the soldiers and fu- v
,usly frowned at by the mounted officer. =
lie mate handed him the letter from l
'ta, which he did not OPEN but ordered .
20 fall in. and We were marched h
rough the town, followed by a motley Il
ovid of siehtseers who evidently view
us with contempt and evidently took a
for pirates. Being better informed n
an the crowd, we put on our bravest
ks and marched cheerily to the govern.
mt house where we were taken into 7
" corridor and halted while our cav y
er went forward to the Governors
)ms.
After some delay we were ushered into 50
splendid reception-room, after passing +
'ough a gallery where some fine-lOok- W
Spanish soldiers were doing duty. The OF
)rs at the extreme end Of the room 81
med. and a splendid-looking soldier m
cred with his suite and several ladies' IA
wore the uniform OF a major-generaI. as
is was the Governor. In his hand he CT
d the Governor OF Rota's letter and. ~
tioning US 10 advance, he said in very -
,d English thar ha WAS Glad 10 CO.. 40 | VI