The ground is levelled and surrounded with a mud or stone wall, not exceeding eighteen inches in height, and having a flood gate above and below.

Into this enclosure the water of the spring is conducted, or is suffered to escape from it, according to the dryness of the season.

When the root has acquired a sufficient size it is pulled up for immediate use.

This esculent is very bad to eat raw, but boiled it is better than the yam.
Cut in slices, dried, pounded and reduced to a farina, it forms with bread fruit the principal food of the natives.

Sometimes they boil it to the consistence of porridge, which they put into gourds and allow to ferment; it will then keep a long time.