The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1931-08-07

DtdhS, anu luleuSe CUNTS, oOiHc VI
them a deep greenish blue, others
looking as though painted with blue
and pink Opaque colors; variegated
Chaetodons, called 'sea butterflies" by
the natives: trunkfshes with horns
and armor, leopard-spotted groupers,
misunderstanding, warty toadhshes,
armed with poisonous spines, much
dreaded by the natives, and q black
fish with a spur on it's forehead.
AS many young fish unfit for fooo
are destroyed by this process, the
Spanish government forbade this
method Of fishing, but since the Amer
lean occupation of the island the prac-
tice has been revived.
In the mangrove swamps when the
ride Is low hundreds of little nsnes
with protruding eyes may be seen
hopping about in the mud and climb
ing among the roots Of the Rhizophora
and Bruguiera. These belong to a
group of fishes interesting from the
fact that their air bladder has as
sumed in a measure the function OF
lungs, enabling the animal TO breathe
atmospheric air.
Natives of Good Appearance.
The natives of Guam are, as
rule. of good physique and pleasing
appearance Owing to their mixed
blood. their complexion varies from
the white Of a Caucasian to the brown
of a Malay. Most of them have glossy
black hair, which is either straight or
slightly curly. It is worn short Dy
the men and long by the women,
either braided. coiled. or dressed after
the styles prevailing in Manila.
Though the natives Of Guam are
naturally intelligent and quick TO
learn. little was done for their educa-
ton until comparatively recent years.
The college of San Juan de Letran
was founded by Queen Maria Anna OF
Austria, widow of Philip ~, who set
tied upon il an annual endowment OF
1000 pesos. Through misapproprla-
ton and dishonesty the annual iOome
of the college gradually dwindled TO
about 1000 pesos. The greater part
of this was absorbed by the rector,
who was usually the priest stationed
at Agana, and by the running ex-
penses of the school, which were the
subsistence and wages paid to JAM
tor. porter. steward. doctor, and the
lighting Of the building.
The people are essentially agricul-
tural. There are few masters and
few servants on the island. AS rule
the farms are not too extensive to be
cultivated by the family, all Of whom,
even the little children, lend a hand.
Often the owners Of neighboring farms
work together in communal fashion,
one day on AS corn, the next day on
BIS. and so on. laughing, singing, and
skvlarking at their work and stopping
whenever they feel so inclined to take
a drink of tuba from bamboo vessel
hanging to a neighboring coconut tree.
Each does his share without con-
straint, nor will he indulge so freely
in tuba as to incapacitate himself for
work. for experience has taught the
necessity of temperance, and every
one must do his share if the services
are to be reciprocal. In the evening
they separate, each going TO his own
rancho to feed his bullock, pigs and
chickens. After a good supper they
lie down for the night on pandanus
mat spread over an elastic platform
of split bamboo.
All Raise Crops.
None of the natives depends for his
livelihood on his handiwork or on
trade alone. There are men who can
make shoes, tan leather, and cut stone
for building purposes, but such thing
as a Chamorro shoemaker, tanner,
stone mason, or merchant who sup
ports his family by his trade is I'M
known. In the midst of building a
stone wall the man who has consented
to help do the work will probably say,
Excuse me. Senior. but I must go to
my rancho for three or four days; the
weeds are getting ahead Of my corn"
And when lime is needed the native
to whom one is directed may say,
after l have finished gathering my
coconuts for copra I will get my boys
to cut wood and gather limestone to
make a kiln. Never fear, Senior, you
shall have your lime within six weeks"
On one occasion a blacksmith was
delayed two weeks in making a pillow
owing to the fact that the man from
whom he got his charcoal had been 80
busy supplying visiting vessels with
fruits and vegetables that he could not
find time TO burn it.
Agana, the seat Of government and
principal town. is about eight miles
from Apra harbor. a fine anchorage
but closed to all foreign ships. Guam
is a lonely spot, seeing only an occa-
sional army or navy transport, the
mail steamer. and a few American
commercial ships. Tourists are un-
known.
The official currency Of the island
is that of the United States, but the
old Spanish code Of laws, slightly mod
fled. still is effective. English, Span
ish and native languages are spoken.
The schoo's are conducted In English.
The principal exports are copra and
coconut oil
The governor of the island. a naval
officer appointed by the President,
takes precedence over and is entitled
to the honors due to an admiral.