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An.1686
Isle of Guam, or Maria. The Coco nut.
lippine Ships, that touch here in their way from Acapulco to Manila, but the Winds will not so eafi- ly let them take this way back again. The Spa- niards of late have named Guam, the Island Maria, it is about 12 leagues long and 4 broad, lying N. and S. It is pretty high Champion Land.
The 21st day of May 1686, at 11 a clock in the evening, we anchored near the middle of the Island Guam, on the West side, a mile from the shore. At a distance it appears flat and even, but coming near it you will find it stands shelving, and the East side, which is much the highest, is fenced with steep Rocks, that oppose the vio'ence of the Sea, which continually rage against it, being dri- ven with the constant Trade-wind, and on that side there is no anchoring. The West side is pretty low, and full of small sandy Bays, divided with as many rocky points. The Soil of the Island is red- dish, dry, and indifferent fruitful. The Fruits are chiefly Rice, Pine-apples, Water-melons, Musk- melons, Oranges and Limes, Coco-nuts, and a sort of Fruit called by us Bread-fruit.
The Coco-nut Trees grow by the Sea, on the Western side in great groves, 3 or 4 miles in length, and a mile or 2 broad. This Tree is in shape like the Cabbage-tree, and at a distance they are not to be known each from other, only the Coco-nut Tree is fuller of Branches; but the Cabbage-tree generally is much higher, though the Coco-nut Trees in some places are very high.
The Nut or Fruit grows at the head of the Tree, among the Branches and in clusters, 10 or 12 in a cluster. The Branch to which they grow is about the bigness of a mans arm, and as long, running small towards the end. It is of a yellow colour, full of knots, and very tough. The Nut is gene- rally bigger than a mans head. The outer Rind is near 2 inches thick, before you come to the Shell; the