Chap. XVII. THE MANIOC, 207 



the morning we had a fine range of green hills called Saloislio 

 on our right, and were informed that they were inhabited by 

 the people of Shinte, who worked the iron-ore which abounds 

 in these hills. The country through which we passed pos- 

 sessed the same wooded character that we have before noticed. 

 The soil is dark, with a tinge of red, and appeared very 

 fertile. Every valley contained villages of twenty or thirty 

 huts, with gardens of manioc, which is regarded as the staff of 

 life in these parts. Very little labour is required for its culti- 

 vation. The earth is thrown up into oblong beds, about three 

 feet broad and one high, in which pieces of the manioc-stalk 

 are planted at intervals of four feet. In from ten to eighteen 

 months the roots are fit for food, but there is no necessity for 

 raising them at once, as the roots do not become bitter and 

 dry for three years. When the roots are taken up a piece or 

 two of the upper stalks is replaced in the hole, and a new 

 crop is thereby begun. The plant grows to a height of sis 

 feet, and every part of it is useful : the leaves may be cooked 

 as a vegetable. 



There are two varieties of the manioc or cassava — one sweet 

 and wholesome, the other bitter and somewhat poisonous, but 

 much more speedy in its growth than the former. The 

 people get rid of the poison by steeping the root four days in 

 water, when it becomes partially decomposed. It is then 

 stripped of its skin, dried in the sun, and pounded into fine 

 white meal closely resembling starch. This meal is mixed 

 with as much boiling water as it will absorb, and in this state 

 forms the ordinary " porridge " of the country. It is both 

 unsatisfying and unsavoury ; no matter how much a man may- 

 eat, two hours afterwards he is as hungry as ever, while in 

 point of flavour I can only compare it to starch made ol 

 diseased potatoes. We managed to eat a little of it mixed 

 with honey. (40 



Our chief guide, Intemese, sent orders to all the villages 

 about our route that Shinte's friends must have abundance ot 

 provisions, and these orders were carried out with a liberality far 

 exceeding that which Shinte himself had exhibited. In return 

 I gave small bunches of my stock of beads, which were always 

 politely received. We had an opportunity of observing thai: 

 our guides had much more etiquette than, any of the tribes 



