How did Amazonian peoples use a woven cylinder to remove toxic juice from manioc pulp?

Amazonian peoples use a long, flexible basketwork cylinder—often called a tipiti—to extract toxic juices from manioc (cassava) pulp.

The process relies on the ingenious use of diagonal plaiting, which allows the cylinder to change shape under tension. The basket is filled with the grated manioc pulp and then suspended. A weight is attached to the bottom of the cylinder, pulling it downward. As the cylinder is stretched and elongated by the ballast, its diameter narrows, which compresses the pulp inside and forces the toxic liquid to drain out through the woven mesh.12

This mechanical pressing is a critical step in a complex refining system developed by Indigenous peoples to remove cyanogenic glucosides, ensuring the manioc is safe for consumption.3