PW029: Turnip of the Congo, called Batata

Rapa del Gongo d: batata,1   questa e una pianta che serpe p[er] terra e butta alcune radiche che sono bone a mangiare del medemo sapore de Tartufi bianchi; di queste e simili radiche ne abbonda la Terra; et io ne hò vedute delle grosse come uno staio, sono di vari colori rosse, gialle, e bianche &: il mirabile e che quando sono mature si tirano di sotto terra e si pongano in casa e quando si vogliano mangiare e cuocere se ne taglia un pezo p[er] volta; e quella che rimane resta p[er] le altre volte fino che e finita; e stando io in Amboella2  me ne fù donata una chiamata Imgname3  di color rosso; e mi durò a me e a tutta la mia gente una intiera Quaresima; i negri la mangiano p[er] delizia

Turnip of the Congo called Batata, this is a plant that crawls on the ground and grows some roots that are good to eat with the same taste as white Truffle; there is an abundance of this and similar roots in the Land; and I have seen some as large as a bushel, they are of various colors red, yellow, white etc. What is remarkable is that when they are ripe, one takes them out from underground and puts them in the house and when one wants to eat and cook them, one cuts a piece at a time; and what is left remains for another time until it is finished and being in Amboella I was given a red colored one called Emgname; and it lasted me and all my people for an entire Lent, the blacks eat it as a delicacy. 

• 1
  From the Portuguese batata: potato but also other tubers. Here it refers to the sweet potato [Ipomea batata] introduced in Angola before 1594 when mentioned by the Jesuits ARSI, Las., 106: “História da Residência dos Padres da Companhia de Jesus em Angola, e cousas tocantes ao Reino, e Conquista, 1 de Maio de 1594” in Brásio, Monumenta, 4:548.
• 2
  There is Mbwela and Mbwila see Saccardo, Congo e Angola, 2:187.
• 3
  Yam, edible tubers from the Dioscoreaceae family. Distinct from the sweet potato, which is often called yam in the United States.