SALEP. 157 



submitting them to the previous processes of grinding 

 and expressing the juice. 



Both plants are propagated by cuttings, which very 

 quickly take root, and in about eight months from the 

 time of their being planted, the tubers will generally 

 be in a fit state to be collected ; they may however 

 be left in the ground for many months longer without 

 sustaining any injury. 



The juice of rnandioc is sometimes fermented with 

 the addition of molasses, and converted into an in- 

 toxicating liquor in great favour with the Indians and 

 negroes. The former of these possessed a knowledge 

 of the means of preparing inebriating fluids when first 

 they were visited by Europeans, who in this instance 

 are therefore free from the reproach which in too 

 many cases attaches to them of introducing the prac- 

 tice of drunkenness among those whom they were 

 bound to have enlightened by communicating knowl- 

 edge, rather than to have brutalized by imparting 

 vices. 



Tapioca, which is capable of being made into ex- 

 cellent puddings, and which is a very wholesome food 

 for children, and for persons whose digestive powers 

 are feeble, is altind of starch prepared from the farina 

 of cassava roots. A considerable quantity of this pre- 

 paration is exported annually from Brazil to Europe. 



A new species of phaseolus was accidentally dis- 

 covered some time since in the island of St Do- 

 mingo. A gentleman, who was collecting plants in 

 that island for the King of France, taking shelter in 

 a cave, observed near it, upon some trees, a climb- 

 ing plant, bearing clusters of dry pods. These 

 seeds he gathered and sowed. The plants grew 

 quickly and luxuriantly, and produced many roots, 

 closely resembling that of cassava, and these, upon 

 being treated in the manner already described, yielded 

 very good cassava bread. In consequence of this 



VOL. xv. 14 



