MANIOC, OR CASSAVA. 



349 



farmers as well, have a patch of roots and a mill and appliances for 

 reducing them, the total quantity of starch made will probably be 

 about 100,000 lbs. 



Pacific Isles. — A plant largely cultivated is the Tacca pinnatifida, 

 Forster, which is indigenous to the sandy shores of the South Sea 

 Islands, and is known in Oceania, but esj)ecially in Tahiti, under the 

 native name of Pla. This plant is, however, now widely diffused. It 

 is met with in China and Cochin-China, according to Loureiro. It is 

 cultivated in the Moluccas, Arracan, and other parts of India, and at 

 Zanzibar. It is found in large quantities in Cook's Archipelago, the 

 Hervey Islands, at Eaiatea, Huahine, Bora-Bora, Maupiti, the 

 Hawaiian Islands, the Samoas, Tonga, the Feejee Islands, &c. The 

 tubercles bear much resemblance to the potato, but, unlike that root, 

 the fecula is found chiefly in the centre and not towards the exterior. 

 The proportion of starch yielded is 30^ per cent. 



There is a large consumption of this starch in Tahiti, especially for 

 childi'en and invalids, and a considerable export of it under the name 

 of arrowroot. The principal part of that which enters into commerce 

 is made in the islands of the adjoining archipelago, Raiatea, Huahine, 

 Bora-Bora, and Maupiti, where it can be purchased for dd. to S^d. 

 per lb. In 1874, 27,746 kilos, of arrowroot were imported into Tahiti, 

 but about 200 kilos, only are produced in the island. In the Hervey 

 Islands it is sold at 2d. ; and Tubuai and Raratonga produce it even 

 cheaper. At Tahiti it retailed, a few years ago, at 4:^d. to 6d. per lb. 



From it the main supply of the Feejee arrowroot is prepared. 

 The Tacca starch is much valued locally, and particularly esteemed 

 in cases of dysentery and diarrhoea. Its characteristics are readily 

 recognized under the microscope. A Tacca occurring on the Sandwich 

 Islands yields a large quantity of the so-called arrowroot exported 

 from there. Other species, including those of Ataccia {Tacca) integri- 

 folia, Presl., occur in India, Madagascar, Guinea, and Guiana, all 

 deserving tests in reference to their value as starch plants. 



From Venezuela there was exported in 1873, 107,502 kilos, of starch 

 (amidon). 



MANIOC, OR CASSAVA. 



This is the plant chiefly cultivated for food purposes in Brazil and 

 in many of the West India Islands. No species of plants have been 

 more changed in scientific nomenclature by botanists than these, for 

 they have alternately been classed as Jatroplias, JanipJias, Manihots, 

 Curcas, &c. I will adopt the names given by Pohl to the two principal 

 species (for most of the others seem to be but mere varieties), the 

 bitter or poisonous species, Manihot utilissima, and the sweet species, 

 M. Aipi. 



The manioc would seem to be a native of Brazil ; it has been intro- 

 duced into India, and is grown about Calcutta, Madras, the Straits 

 Settlements, and other quarters. It flourishes better on the borders of 

 the sea and on islands than in the interior of the continent. On the 

 coast of Coromandel the roots are more fibrous, and, therefore, inferior 

 to those raised in Malabar. It is extensively grown in Guiana, the 

 West Indies, and various parts of Africa. 



