Edible Products. 



62 



These root s grow without cultivation in the jungle and form the chief food 

 of bears. I cannot compare them to any other root than to the Yam ; when boiled, 

 the former has the same taste as the Potatoe, and even excels it in its mealy 

 qualities, but the latter is somewhat coarser ; both, however, are wholesome food, 

 and if the inhabitants of the Wanny had not had these roots the last three years 

 during the great scarcity, the 10, or 12,000 parrahs of paddy which were imported 

 here would have availed little for the subsistence of the immense population, 

 as the greater part of it was employed as seed. 



Hence, as these roots are both in time of need and at other times used by 

 the inhabitants as food, which they have ouly to dig up, and although they may 

 not in wholesomeness and excellence surpass the Manioc, at least equal it, I think 

 the inhabitants will feel but little inclined to bestow particular care on the 

 new introduction. 



And besides, on the prevalence of a dry season and on occasions of a bad 

 crop, the poor or the idle who are averse to work in the fields, may easily provide 

 themselves with a considerable quantity of ' Warigae ' and ' Natchene,' the latter 

 being a grain that produces a hundred-fold without the aid of water, and it is 

 on this that the greater part of the Malabars at our place subsist. I have tried it 

 and found it to be good, somewhat similar in taste to barley, and I am led to think 

 that the facility of obtaining these grains contributes greatly to prevent the 

 cultivation of paddy, the sole inducement of the people to grow Paddy being to 

 procure with the produce of its sale the clothing they require, and also a variety 

 of food, otherwise I really think that the culture of this grain would be entirely 

 neglected. It was this circumstance that induced me, on my arrival here, to impose 

 a tithe to be paid to Government on all kinds of grain indiscriminately. The 

 ' Warigae ' tax is again farmed out for the delivery of paddy, and produces generally 

 three to one, that is to say a parrah of Paddy is delivered in lieu of three parrahs 

 of 'Warigae.' 



For the above reasons I fear I shall encounter some difficulty in persuading 

 the inhabitants that the manioc root is preferable to the other products which 

 Providence spontaneously furnishes them, but as this root may also be employed 

 in the hour of need, and as it is certainly better to have an article of food more 

 than less in a country, I shall cause it to be diligently planted in this Province. 



I have the honour to be, &c, 



(Sd.) THOMAS NAGEL. 



(Annexure B ) 

 Cassava. 



Introduction.— The " Cassava" or " Maniocca " is a native plant of the West 

 Indies, and it is not known when, and by whom this plant has been introduced here. 

 It is called " Mayyokka " in Sinhalese and " Mayy a or Mayo Kilanku" in Tamil. 

 It is universally known by its principal product " Tapioca." 



Varieties.— There are many varieties of this plant. In the first place they 

 are divided into two kinds, viz., sweet Cassava and bitter Cassava. The bitter 

 Cassava is said not to be found in the Island. 



Out of the many varieties of the sweet kind the commonest two kinds are 

 the white and pink. 



Description.— It is a bushy shrub growing to about 5 or 6 feet. It has 

 tuberous roots like the dahlia. 



