Dr Tschudi on Coca. 301 



moved from those islands vvitlioutany apparent decrease of the 

 accumulation. The uniformity of climate on a coast where 

 there is not much rain, must contribute to render the Peruvian 

 guano a more arid manure than the African, as fewer of the 

 saline particles of the former being in solution, they are con- 

 sequently less subject to evaporation. — {Dr TschudVs Travels 

 in Peru, p. 239.) 



On Coca {Erythroxplon Coca, Lam.) By Dr J. J. VoN 



Tschudi. 



The coca {Erythroxylon coca. Lam.) is a shrub about six 

 feet in height, with bright green leaves and white blossoms ; 

 the latter are succeeded by small scarlet berries. It is raised 

 from the seed, in garden-beds called almazigas. When the 

 young shoots are one and a half or two feet high, they are 

 removed to regularly laid out coca fields {cocales), where they 

 are planted at the distance of about three spans from each 

 other. The coca requires humidity ; therefore, during the 

 first year or two after it is planted in the fields, maize is sown 

 between the matas, or young shoots, to screen them from the 

 too great influence of the sun. When the leaves are ripe, that 

 is to say, when, on being bent, they crack or break off, the 

 gathering commences. The leaves are stripped from the 

 branches, a task usually performed by women ; and it requires 

 great care lest the tender leaves and young twigs should be 

 injured. In some districts the Indians are so very careful in 

 gathering the coca, that, instead of stripping off the leaves, 

 they cut them from the stem by making an incision with their 

 nails; the plant, thus rendered leafless, is soon again overgrown 

 with verdant foliage. After being gathered, the leaves are 

 spread out on coarse woollen cloths, and dried in the sun. 

 The colour of the leaves when dried is a pale green. The 

 drying is an operation which likewise demands great care and 

 attention ; for if the leaves imbibe damp, they become dark 

 coloured, and then they sell for a much lower price than when 

 they are green. The dry coca is finely packed in woollen 



