Here also grows the Root _Yuca_, as also on several other _West-Indian_ Coasts, of which they make their best Bread, and is call’d in _Hispaniola_ and _Angola_, _Yuca_; by the _Brasilians_, _Mandiba_ and _Mandihoka_; by the _Mexicans_, _Quauhcamotli_: it grows with a thick or midling Body, according to the fruitfulness or barrenness of the Soil; the Leaves are like those of a Tulip, and have small Flowers and Seed, but no ways useful; the Root, not unlike Horse-Raddish, hath a milky Juice, which swells it exceedingly; the Sprigs, which in the eighth and tenth Moneth shoot out of the Root, serve for new Plants; and if at any time it happen, that either by a moist Season, or by Worms, or Pismires, the Plant is spoil’d, then it occasions such an inconvenience amongst the Inhabitants, that half of them in that year die of Famine. [Sidenote: What use the _Americans_ make of the Root _Mandihoka_.] The Leaves of the _Mandihoka_ serve them for Sallads. Out of the Root, which they lay soaking five days in Water, they make Meal, which the _Portuguese_ call _Farina fresca_, but the _Americans_, _Vipeba_. Moreover, _Mandihoka_ serves them to make Bread, which they bake over the Fire; and mix’d with Water, Pepper, and the Flour _Nhambi_, makes an excellent Pudding, by them call’d _Mingaude Carima_, no less pleasing to the taste than wholsom Food: and with Orange-Flour, Water, and Sugar, it makes that excellent Julep _Tipioca_. The Powder of _Mandihoka_ put into a Wound, cures very speedily. It is very pleasant to see the _Americans_ eat this Bread; for they toss it by handfuls at a pretty distance from their Mouthes without letting fall the least Crum. Lastly, it requires great art and trouble to make the _Mandihoka_ fit for Bread: first they must peel off the Shell, then put into a Mill turn’d by two _Indians_ it falls, being Ground, into a square Trough. The Juice proceeding from it is mortal, if eaten when raw, but wholsom if boil’d: the Meal they put in a Press, and when all the moisture is drawn from it, they strow it in an Oven to dry. But the wild _Mandihoka_, by those that live on the Sea-shore call’d _Cuacu Mandiiba_, and up in the Countrey, _Cuquacucuremia_, differs both in shape and goodness from the first. [Illustration] [Sidenote: _Arias_’s Exploits in _New Andalusia_.]