SETTLEMENTS ON THE DEMERARY, &C. 265 



afterwards baked into cakes, which are good food, and will 

 keep for several months. The juice is boiled with meat and 

 seasoned, and makes excellent soup, which is termed Casse- 

 repo, and used in pepper-pot and sauces. The Indians and 

 negroes are very fond of this sauce, highly seasoned with 

 cayenne. Pepper-pot is a standing dish, and if replenished 

 when near the bottom, will keep for any length of time ; it is 

 related of a Dutchman, who lived in Berbice, that he abso- 

 lutely kept one for upwards of twenty years. The whole of 

 this root, both the meal and the juice, before being exposed 

 to fire, are fatal poisons, and cattle are frequently killed by 

 drinking of the juice which has been left in their way by the 

 carelessness of the slaves. This poisonous quality is possessed 

 only by the bitter cassava. 



The plant which bears the caruna poison, is a sniall tree, 

 covered by a brown bark. Its leaves are small, oval, and of 

 a light green colour. At the end of the branches grows a red- 

 dish coloured blossom, which falls off and is succeeded by 

 small nuts, covered by a thick husk. The nut has a hard 

 shell, and contains a farinaceous kernel. This kernel is a slow 

 poison, which is said to be made use of by some tribes of In- 

 dians to destroy their enemies. 



The nibbees are long creeping plants, without leaves or 

 branches, of immense length, whilst their circumference is 



M m 



