Jasper County Democrat, Volume 22, Number 38, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 August 1919 — Poison Root, the Wheat of Barbados, Is Turned Into a Wholesome, Nourishing Flour [ARTICLE]

Poison Root, the Wheat of Barbados, Is Turned Into a Wholesome, Nourishing Flour

The cassora root, or manioc, is the «’heat of Barbados. Before it comes to be eaten, it suffers a strange conversion ; for, being an absolute poison when it is gathered, the natives submit it to a process by which it is trans-substantlated into wholesome and nourishing flour. The outside of the root is washed clean and it Is then held against a wheel, turned around with the foot, the Woad surface of which is made rough like a large grate. The grated root falls down in a large trough, appointed as receiver for the purpose. The thus obtained powder, or pulp, is a rank poison, but it is now put into a strong piece of canvas and pressed hard until all juice is squeezed out. This dried poultice is thm spread upon a-cloth to be yet more dried in the sun. until it Is ready for use. The dough, or “pone,” as the natives call it, is then put in a kind of pan standing on three legs, and about six inches high. This pan is about 20 Inches in diameter and slightly hollowed in the middle. It is half an inch thick at the edge, but thicker toward the middle. When the pan is getting hot, the dough is spread out on it and the natives keep pushing it down with their hands. This is to make it stick together, it being nearly dry. They then turn It round and round with a kind of battledore until it is done. The cakes thus produced are about as thick as pancakes.