Cassaba, tbc Jfocb of tbc Canbs. 



By WII.LIAM DUNCAN, L.R.C.P. 



(Abstract.) 



THE Indians of Guiana are entirely occupied in pro- 

 curing food — the men in hunting and fishing for 

 animal food, the Avomen in cultivating and preparing the 

 Cassava {Manihot utilissima), which is their chief vegetable 

 product. 



The " cassava sticks," or cuttings, are planted at the be- 

 ginning of the wet season, in a part of the forest which has 

 been cleared and the undergrowth burnt down. There is no 

 preparation of the soil, but the sticks are thrnst into the 

 ground, and in a short time have taken root. They require 

 no attention farther than keeping down the weeds ; and from 

 the time they are planted, until nine or ten months after- 

 wards, when they are fit for pulling up, various othet plants 

 are grown between the row^s of cassava, such as pine-apple, 

 pumpkins, yams, tobacco, etc., etc. 



AVhen the seeds appear, they show that the roots are ripe, 

 and they are dug up as required, and two or three of the 

 sticks are put in the ground to form the succeeding crop. 



In the making of cassava bread the roots are carefully 

 peeled and washed by one woman, and thrown on a heap. 

 Another woman takes them from the heap, and with both 

 hands rubs them on a rough grater which stands on a trough 



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