GUAM, or GUAHON, as it is called by the natives, is an island in the eastern seas, forming one of the group de nominated Ladrones, or Marianne Islands. According to the computation of the Spaniards, it is about 120 miles in circuit, apparently flat and even from a distance, but the east coast, on nearer approach, is found to be high and shelving, fenced with steep rocks which oppose the perpe tual beating of the sea. Here there is no anchorage, but the west side is divided into small low and sandy bays, one of which, called Urnata, constitutes a good harbour for a few vessels, and is defended by a bat tery of twenty guns. The surface of the island gra dually rises from the shore to nearly the middle. The rocks are chiefly granitic ; and the centre of the peb bles found on the beach, contains various coloured crystals. Several vallies are interposed between the shore and the inland parts, where vegetation becomes profuse. They appear to have been the bed of so many currents ; and their soil consists of sandy earth, mixed with decaying madrepores, from which the sea seems to have withdrawn. The interior, however, is of extreme fertility, abounding with all that can be desired for the use of man. Nume rous fountains spring from the rocks, and in their course form transparent pools, shaded by trees, always preserv ing an agreeable freshness amidst the heats of the climate. But there are no rivers of importance ; the other waters be ing either torrents from among the hills, or initts of the sea.
No portion of the globe is more copiously supplied with vegetables than Guam ; and here our celebrated circum navigator Dampier first discovered the bread-fruit, an in valuable plant, which affords subsistence to so many thou sand islanders of the South Pacific Ocean.. The forests are full of guavas, bananas, cocoas, oranges, and limes. Capers are produced in abundance from a shrub, indige nous to the soil, of beautiful appearance, flourishing throughout the year; and exhaling a delightful odour. From hence it has been transplanted to the Philippine islands. Two species of banana are thought peculiar to Guam ; one of dwarfish size, only three feet in height, but producing a fruit so much superior to all the rest, that its cultivation has been recommended in the Euro pean tropical colonies; the other is the wild banana, a large tree, the fruit of which is not eatable. Of the cocoa
tree there are three kinds : first, the common species, disseminated throughout India, bearing a nut, which is a great article of subsistence ; secondly, a middle-sized tree, which is lower, the nut having a tender shell, and a kernel tasting like an artichoke bottom ; thirdly, the black cocoa tree, rising at most to eight or ten feet in height, with a nut perfectly round, about three inches in diameter, and very delicate. This last affords oil more abundantly than the others, as also coire for cordage,. and the leaves of all the three are equally suitable for thatching huts and mak ing mats.
Fish is plentiful on the shores of the island, though frequently of a poisonous quality, originating, it has been conjectured, either from their feeding on the polypi of madrepores and coral, or other marine animals. It is af firmed, that the very taste of the coral is imparted to them. Turtle are large and numerous ; besides which the streams of Guam afford abundance of aqUatic tribes peculiar to themselves. But the facility with which subsistence of a ' different description is obtained, renders that which may be derived from the waters quite of secondary considera tion, and it is little sought after.
It has never been explained, what are the birds and quadrupeds which are indigenous to the island. A few cattle, that were carried thither long ago, have multiplied exceedingly, arid run wild in the uninhabited districts. They arc large, and well fed, and exhibit one remarkable feature common to those resuming their original state, in almost all being white, with black ears. It is known, that in Great Britain the few which remain Unmixed from dis tant ages, and have preserved their pristine ferocity, retain along with it the same peculiarity, which is of much interest to the zoologist. Some years ago, the Spaniards transported a large species of deer from the Philippines to Quail), which undergoes so great a change along with the season as scarcely to be recognizable as the same animal. From December to May, its winter coat is long, thick, and of a grey colour ; but from the month of May, the hair is brown, or almost yellow, smooth, and shining, having three black streaks on the back, interspersed with white. It multiplies in the woods, which are also well stocked with wild hogs.