OF PLANTS. 193 



Lily-plants. The long bundle is hung upon a stick, 

 which rests on two forks, and a heavy stone is fastened to 

 the bottom, the weight of which causes the juice to be 

 pressed out* This runs into a shell of the Cala- 

 bash gourd (Crescentia Cujete), placed beneath. Close 

 by squats a little boy, and dips his father's arrows in the 

 deadly milk, while the wife lights a fire to dry the pressed 

 roots, and by heat to drive off more completely the volatile 

 poisonous matter. Next, it is powdered between two 

 stones, and the Cassava- meal is ready. Meanwhile, the 

 boy has completed his evil task ; the sap, after standing- 

 some considerable time, has deposited a delicate, white 

 starch, from which the poisonous fluid is poured off. The 

 meal is then well washed with water, and is the fine white 

 Tapioca, resembling, in every respect, Arrow-root. In a 

 similar, more or less skilful manner, are the Mandioca and 

 Tapioca, everywhere prepared. The sated savage saunters 

 round to seek a new sleeping-place, but woe to him ! inad- 

 vertently he has prepared his couch beneath the dreadful 

 Manchineel (Hippomane Mancinella), and in a sudden 

 shower, the rain drips from its leaves upon him. In 

 frightful pain he wakes up, covered with blisters and 

 ulcers, and if he escape with life, he is at least the richer 

 of a fearful experience of the poisonous properties of the 

 Euphorbiacea. But this will seldom happen to a native ; 

 the Manchineel is avoided in America with the same 

 mysterious and almost superstitious awe, as the fabulous 

 Poison-tree in Java. Happily, the Trumpet-tree (Bignonia 

 leucoxylori), the sap of which is the surest antidote 

 against the Manchineel, usually rears its beautiful purple 

 blossoms close at hand, the constant companion of that 

 dangerous Euphorbiacean. 



* Sec the Vignette. 



13 



