? 
time, _shews 1 Me 
132 
for the press; but the publication of the second volume being 
_ unavoidably retarded, and the Royal Academy desiring that this 
Memoir should appear as soon as possible; favoured me with the 
necessary certificate for publishing it on my own account, as I now — 
do, for the general benefit. 
Any discovery in the vegetable kingdom, of qualities capable 
of supplying the first necessities, or curing the disorders inci- 
dent to human nature, is certainly of greater value than a hun- 
dred discoveries of no_ known utility. 
One of the firstand most estimable is the plant called in Peru 
Yallhoy,* and known in other parts of that kingdom by the 
name of Masca,+ the bark of whose roots presents many medi- 
cinal and economic virtues. _ 
The abundant foam, similar to that of soap, which is yielded 
by the fresh and dry barks of the Yallhoy when pounded and 
infused in hot or cold water, and shaken slightly or for a long 
as Agee, exists in these barks a great Braportion Of . 
saponaceous matter. “< 
_ This indication is in some » destee proyed- + the circumstance 
of these barks eing used. as a substitute for soap in washing 
and cleansing linen of all kinds. For this purpose the fresh 
bark of the roots of the Yallhoy, is well pounded and moulded 
into, balls, which are sold in the shops and great Square of Hua- 
nuco; and. the dry barks.are also soldi in the markets for the same 
purpose. 
Signifying to bales filth or Migiaciies 
is ee ent t to tassel; thus nee means the regal jase of the tneas. 
