half, the total sago yield from that plant would amount to 
2.250 kg. I suggest adding at least another 750 gr. to account 
for the fact that the wide blade of the hoe prevented the 
Indian from extracting all of the available pith. A close 
approximation of the potential yield of the tested Manicaria 
is 3 kg. Even at that, Manicaria must be considered a low 
yield sago palm for the purpose to which the Warao put it: 
emergency food." 
In order to assess the nutritional value of Manicaria starch, 
I had the procured sample analyzed at laboratories in Cara- 
cas. The results of these tests are summarized in Table I. 
TABLE I 
Composition of Manicaria saccifera Starch 
pH (sol. 2% ) 5.75 
Humidity 63.51% 63.51% 
Fat * 0.55% 
Dextrose * 5.07% 
Protein °* 1.62% 
Starch * 4.57% 
Fiber ** 24.68% 
36.49% 36.49% 
100.00% 
* Calculation based on dry material 
°* By balance 
Ethnobotanical lore. The process of producing starch from 
Mauritia is a highly ritualized affair when done in prepara- 
tion for the annual harvest festival nahanamu or in connec- 
tion with any other propitiatory offering. The implements 
used in Manicaria starch extraction are also subject to certain 
taboos, but, for several reasons, Manicaria sago is considered 
less appropriate for these sacrificial purposes than the other. 
In the first place, the production yield of Mauritia is far 
greater (Heinen and Ruddle 1974). For instance, the amount 
of sago needed for a well prepared nahanamu festival varies 
[319 ] 
