Our host … showed us a thick, ¾ foot long root, blunt at both ends. At the bluntest end six or seven small thorny branches sprouted forth … which should have carried many leaves; they consisted of 5 or 6 segments and were as long as the palm of a hand. But no leaves could be seen. The root has an almost black bark but is completely white inside. The single little branch that I send you was cut off from this root by me. As you see, it is woody, round, flexible, tough, and rough on account of the many very small thorns. I have asked him [i.e. his host] to send you the root … which he took for the inhame [i.e. yam]; but I have heard differently from the Prefect of the Indies, who had added twelve black slaves from St Thomas [São Tomé] to his other servants. When he had fallen ill on account of the change of air and asked me to come and cure him … I did my best to find out from them what was the case.

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