28 SARSAPARILLA OF THE MUNDRUCUS. 



article of food in the autumn. To me it was disgusting, the taste being 

 rancid, and resembling train oil. 



2. Yoke, Yike, or Yooke. This is a very curious plant, and is found in 

 the interior. 3. Nornup, or Noornop : some pronounce it Nornoop. This 

 also is very curious, and occurs in the interior. 4. Warran. Is found far 

 in the interior to the north-east of King George's Sound, but it is more 

 common about Swan River. 5. Tieubuck. Is plentiful about King 

 George's Sound. 6. Carr. 7. Werringan. 8, 9. Toondong and Quording : 

 quording resembles mynd. 10. Kg-Noowill. 11. Mike. 12. Cole-bar. 

 13. Chettagong. 14. Knongan. 15, 16. Tyac-Kut, and Moolul. 17. 

 Mynd ; the most important. 



In very dry parts of the country, many other kinds of roots are eaten 

 by the natives ; but, as far as can be ascertained, they are otherwise 

 despised, unless under cases of extreme necessity. 



SARSAPARILLA OF THE MUNDRUCUS. 



The medical virtues of sarsaparilla have given rise from time to time 

 to great controversy, and have produced many and various opinions. Why 

 it has fallen in the estimation of scientific men of this country and the 

 Continent, or why it never obtained so great a reputation as it has in 

 America, may arise from two causes : first, that the root imported into 

 this country and offered for sale is generally the product of the less 

 valuable species, — and the species are without number ; and, second, that 

 the fresh juice or sap, and not the rhizome or bark — dried as it appears in 

 commerce — probably is the active and medicinal principle. 



It is our purpose to state here the nature of the sarsaparilla of a par- 

 ticular Indian tribe ; and, in doing so, some light may be thrown upon sar- 

 saparilla generally, and thus account for the contrary opinions maintained. 



This plant is one of the chief articles of commerce dealt in by the 

 Mundrucus. It is gathered by the women and children six months out of 

 the year ; the remaining six months being spent in hostilities against tribes 

 of adjoining territories* The time adopted by the Mundrucus for 

 gathering the sarsaparilla is during the wet season (as then they do not go 

 to war, but choose the fine hot weather for this purpose), as the roots 

 are more easily dug or pulled from the damp earth, especially where the 

 tendrils grow near the surface, and they will pull up without breaking. 



* The territory of the Mundrucus, or Beheaders, is situate far up between the 

 Tapajos and Madeira. On the Tapajos above the Caxoeiras, or Cataracts, their villages 

 are found. Here they live without any interference on the part of the whites ; but 

 are very much harassed and perplexed by neighbouring tribes, especially the Muras, 

 who live at the mouths of the Madeira and Rio Negro. 



