[Zope] Python scripts & DA objects

I have an specific need to manipulate Database objects directly with a python script, rather than by ZSQL methods. I notice methods called manage_insert, manage_join, and manage_update in the source, but I can't quite get the syntax right. Zope Labs doesn't have any example code for this that I can find. Has anyone done something like this? Alternately, Since I can't introspect through the ZMI- where can I find a list of all the methods a DA object supports?