Guaiacum

an ornamental tree with blue flowers, growing in Jamaica. The wood furnishes Lignum vite; its resin is called gum guaiacum. The leaves are used in the West Indies as a substitute for soap. The bark and wood are used as sudor i tics, diaphoretics, or alteratives. | Guaira, La, the port of Caracas, Venezuela, on a narrow strip of land between the mountains and the Caribbean Sea. Efforts have been made to improve the harbor by the construction of a breakwater and wharves. The average value of the imports is almost $5,000,000, and that of the exports nearly as much. The place figured prominently in the blockade of Venezuelan ports by the British, Germans and Italians in 1903. It was not bombarded, however. | Guam, an island in the Pacific Ocean, the largest of the Marianne or Ladrone group; area, 200 square _miles; capital, Agana. The island is fertile and to 9 great extent covered | with valuable timber lands. There. are 18 schools and about 90 per cent. | of the natives can read and write. At, the beginning of the Spanish-American War the Ladrone group belonged | to Spain, and on June 20, 1898, the United States cruiser “ Charleston,” on its Sy Manila, opened fire on, Agana. 9The Spanish garrison, not knowing that war existed, and thinking the attack was a salute, sent an officer to the “Charleston” apologizing for not returning it, owing to lack of ammunition. When they learned the state of affairs, the place was surrendered in le than 30 minutes.