In 1802, American William Haswell visited Guam while working as the First Mate for the barque Lydia.

The Lydia had left Boston the prior year and traveled to Manila, where it was hired to bring the incoming Spanish Governor to the Marianas. The ship stayed in Guam for more than a month.

Haswell published an account of his journey and included this drawing of Hagåtña as seen from his ship. Among its interesting and historically significant features, note that on the right of the image along the shore is a canoe house.

Haswell’s account provided an important look into the lives of the CHamoru people in their corner of the Spanish empire. He noted that CHamorus still preferred to work naked in the fields, but would hurry to put clothes on if any Europeans appeared. He also reminisced that the most delicious watermelon he had ever tasted was grown in Guam.