With regard to the productions of these islands, in ge neral, it may be farther stated, that sulphur, and some signs of metals, have been discovered on Guam, and a pearl fishery near the coast of Saypan ; that the cotton and indigo trees are very abundant on many of them, and that the most valuable productions of both the Indies might be easily introduced ; that, besides the animals already men tioned, there are numbers of wild hogs of a large size, (some of which weighed 200 pounds) guanacoes, particu larly on Saypan, which are supposed to have been intro duced by the Spaniards ; immense swarms of musquitoes, large black ants, a variety of venomous insects, and a spe cies of tick, commonly attached to the cattle, but which was apt to settle on the hands and limbs of the European visitors, and burying its head under the skin, caused a pain ful inflammation ; and that the fish on the coast have been uniformly found to be unwholesome.
The inhabitants of these islands regarded themselves., before the arrival of the Spaniards, as the only human be ings in the world, and had a tradition that the first man was formed of earth from the island of Guam. In colour, speech, manners, and government, they bore a great re semblance to the the original inhabitants of the Philippines. They appeared even to Magellan to have made some advances in civilization ; and several monu ments were observed by Anson and other navigators, par ticularly on the islands of Tinean and Saypan, which indi cated the arts and antiquity of the population. Square pyramidal pillars, measuring about five feet at the base, and thirteen feet in height, each surmounted by a semi globe with the flat surface uppermost, so as to have the appearance of a large bowl, were observed in various parts of the islands, arranged in double rows. These pillars were formed of a composition of stone and sand, with a coating of plaister ; and seem to have fallen rapidly into decay, after the depopulation of the island took place. The natives are tall, robust, and well proportioned ; of an olive complexion, darkened by the use of cocoa•nut oil, with well grown beards, and long black hair ; sometimes tied up on the top of the head. The men wear very little cover ing, commonly nothing more than a cap of palm leases ; but the women have a kind of petticoat made of mat. Both sexes stain their teeth black, and many paint their bodies with a red colour. They are naturally acute, lively, and ingenious ; and the females are described as peculiarly cheerful in their dispositlons, and graceful in their deport ment. They are said also to be treated with greater re spect than is usual among uncivilized tribes ; and in the married state, to hold rather a superiority in point of pri vileges over the men. Their houses, or rather huts, were formed by the palm tree, and divided by mats into different apartments, appropriated to distinct uses, as places for sleeping, eating, working, and holding provisions. Their utensils, though few, were neatly made ; and their weapons, consisting only of lances or javelins, were formed of a tough strong wood, and pointed with human bones. But the most striking ingenuity is to be seen in their canoes, called by the Europeans flying prows, or prows which are consi dered as peculiarly adapted to the nature of the seas and winds around these islands, and as altogether unequalled for simplicity of structure, swiftness of sailing, and ease of management. They are usually about 40 feet in length,
4 in depth, and little more than two in breadth, formed sometimes of a single stern, but commonly of two pieces sewed together with bark, and caulked with bitumen. The mast is above 20 feet high, the sail of a square or rather triangular shape, and capable of being accommodated in such a manner, as to enable the vessel to steer indiffer ently with either end foremost. The lee-side is perfectly flat, but the windward side is curved like other boats, and is also provided with an outrigger or frame of bamboo, about 12 feet in length, resting on a log 13 feet long, hol lowed out like a little boat, the whole being kept steady by braces from the head and stern of the main vessel, and serving to prevent its being overset. These prows will sail, with a brisk wind, at the rate of 20 miles an hour ; and nothing can exceed the dexterity of the natives in trimming, and righting them when overset. When such an accident happens, they discover great ex pertness and presence of mind in the water, to which they arc inured from their infancy, and are surpassed by few savage nations in the arts of swimming and diving. They were without any regular government before their subjec tion to the Spaniards ; but have a class of nobles among them, who preserve a high degree of dignity and distance in their intercourse with the other ranks, and are treated with great respect ; hut possess no fat Cher authority than what their persuasion can secure. These islanders, in short, carry the practice of liberty to the utmost possible extent, and pursue their own pleasure without any con troul. Every man avenges his own quarrel ; and hostili ties frequently occur between the inhabitants of different districts ; but their wars, which are conducted with more acrimony than courage, are never sanguinary ; and the loss of one or two combatants decides the battle, and usually terminates the dispute. In order to qualify themselves for these martial exploits, they apply With much ardour to active and athletic exercises, such as running, wrestling, pitching stones, and throwing lances. Their religion consisted chiefly in a superstitious dread of an evil being, and of departed spirits, whom their magicians (who also practise surgery) teach them to appease by stated fasts, and various ceremonies. They have also poets among them, who are greatly admired ; and whose songs (which consist in eulogies on their ancestors and nation) the women are accustomed to sing in bands, with a consi derable degree of harmony of voice, and gracefulness of gesture. See Modern Universal History, vol ix.; Anson's Voyages, book I ; 13yron and AVt;Ilis' Voyage in Ilawkesworth's Collection ; Marchand's Voyage round the it.; and Mot tinter's Observations during a Voy age to Tenerp, Ste. and the alticu GuAm (q).