2l6 
NOTES OF A BOTANIST 
CHAP. 
On the following day I went, accompanied by 
an Indian, to see the Bauna plant, which grows 
pretty abundantly in the forest on the south of the 
Jauauari. We found several plants, and I procured 
specimens of the stem and leaves, and dug down to 
the roots, but there were no flowers or fruits. 
The Bauna root is still more poisonous than that 
of the mandiocca, though quite tasteless when fresh, 
and repeated washings are required to render the 
farinha and tapioca wholesome. A family at the 
mouth of the Rio Negro ate of the roasted (but 
unwashed) roots, and the experiment nearly cost 
them their lives. When properly prepared the 
farinha of Bauna is scarcely distinguishable from 
that of mandiocca ; for three days I lived solely on 
Bauna and milk (with the exception of once eating 
a bit of broiled fish) and found it wholesome and 
nutritious. 
Soon after my return from the Jauauari, I learnt 
that after my departure a number of Indians resid- 
ing on the river went to the herdsman's house in a 
body, and expostulated with his wife in the most 
angry manner for her thus revealing to a stranger 
the source of their support in times of scarcity. 
" The people of the Barra," said they, " will cross 
the river to search for this root, and will soon 
eradicate it. The Commandant, too, having heard 
of the narrow escape of this family at the mouth of 
the river, will send to forbid our making further use 
of such dangerous food." Their alarm was as great, 
and equally as well founded, as that of a trader up 
the Rio Negro, from whom Dr. Natterer procured 
seeds of salsaparilla. I considered to myself," 
said the man afterwards to Senhor Henrique, 
