352 



AEEOTN'EOOT. 



Dr. Taylor^ in his Topography of Dacca, speaks of fecula or 

 starch being obtained from the Egyptian lotus' {NymplKEa lotus). 

 which is used by the native practitioners as a substitute for 

 arrowroot. 



Chinese arrowroot is said to be made from the root of Xeliim- 

 hium speciosum. 



The original Indian arrowroot is extracted at Trayancore, ac- 

 cording to Ainshe, from the root of the Curcuma angustifoJia. 

 It is easily distinguished by its form, which is sometimes ovoid, 

 sometimes elongated, of considerable size, rounded at one of the 

 extremities, and terminating in a point at the other, often re- 

 serdbling a grain of rice. 



The manufacture of arrowroot on the southern borders of the 

 Everglades, at Key AYest, Florida, bids fair to become as exten- 

 sive and as profitable as at Bermuda, whence, at present, we re- 

 ceive the bulk of our supphes. The wild root, which the Indians 

 call Compti, grows spontaneously over an immense area of other- 

 wise barren land. It is easily gathered, and is first peeled in large 

 hoppers ingeniously contrived, and thrown into a cylinder and 

 ground into an impalpable pulp. It is then washed and dried in 

 the sun, baked and broken into small lumps, when it is ready for 

 the market. The article is extensively used in the Eastern 

 woollen and cotton establishments, as well as for family use. 

 Arrowroot is cultivated in the interior of East Florida with great 

 success. It is also cultivated to a considerable extent in Greorgia, 

 and is, I understand, a profitable crop. 



The following is the process of manufacture : — The roots, when 

 a year old, are dug up, and beaten in deep wooden mortars to a 

 pulp ; which is then put into a tub of clean water, well washed, 

 and the fibrous part thrown away. The milky liquor being passed 

 through a sieve or coarse cloth, is sufiJ'ered to settle, and the clean 

 water is drawn off ; at the bottom of the vessel is a white mass, 

 which is again mixed v^dth clean water, and drained ; lastly the 

 mass is dried in the sun, and is pure starch. Arrowroot can be 

 kept without spoiHng for a very long time. 



A considerable quantity of arrowroot is now produced in tbe 

 Sandwich Islands. In 1841 arrowroot to the value of 3.320 dolls, 

 was shipped, and in 1843, 35,140 lbs., valued at £1,405, was ex- 

 ported, principally to Topic and San Bias, where it is used as 

 starch for linen. 



A kind of arrowroot of very good quality was sent to the 

 Grreat Exhibition of 1851, by Sir E,. Schomburgk, which is obtained 

 in St. Domingo from the stems of a species of Zamia, called there 

 Guanjiga ; and the Zamia Australis, of Western Australia, yields 

 even better fecula. The taste was unpleasant and salt, as if it had 

 been immersed in lime. The other starch, from the Western Aus- 

 tralian Zamia, in quality rivalled arrowroot. This fecula hangs 

 together in chains, quite unlike the ordinary appearance of arrow- 

 root when seen under the microscope. 



