302 ,Dr Tscluidi on Coca, 



sacks and covered with sand. These sacks are of various sizes 

 and colours, in different parts of the Montanas. In Huanuco 

 they are grey or black, and, when filled, weigh from seventy- 

 five to eighty pounds. In Vitoc, they are grey and white, 

 and contain one hundred and fifty pounds. In Huanto and 

 Anco, they are small in size, and black or brown in colour, 

 and contain merely one aroba. In the Montanas of Uru- 

 bamba, Galea, and Paucartambo, the coca leaves are put 

 in small baskets, called cestos, and covered with sand. Great 

 care is also requisite in the carriage of the coca, for if damp be 

 allowed to penetrate the sack, the leaves become hot, or, as 

 the natives express it, Se calientan, and are thereby rendered 

 useless. 



The Indians masticate the coca. Each individual carries a 

 leathern pouch called the hual/qui, or the chuspa, and a small 

 flask gourd, called the ischupuru. The pouch contains a 

 supply of coca leaves, and the gourd is filled with pulverised 

 unslaked lime. Usually four times, but never less than three 

 times a-day, the Indian suspends his labour, for the purpose 

 of masticating coca. This operation (which is termed chac- 

 char or acullicar) is performed in the following manner : — 

 Some of the coca leaves, the stalks having been carefully 

 picked oif, are masticated until they form a small ball, or, as 

 it is called, an acullico, A thin slip of damp wood is then 

 thrust into the ishcupuru, or gourd, and when drawn out, 

 some portion of the powdered lime adheres to it. The acul- 

 lico, or ball of masticated coca leaves, is, whilst still lying in 

 the mouth, punctured with this slip of wood, until the lime 

 mixing with it, gives it a proper lelish, and the abundant flow 

 of saliva thus excited, is partly expectorated and partly swal- 

 lowed. When the ball ceases to emit juice, it is thrown away, 

 and a new one is formed by the mastication of a fresh mouth- 

 ful of coca leaves. In Cerro de Pasco, and in places still 

 farther south, the Indians use, instead of unslaked lime, a 

 preparation of the pungent ashes of the quinua {Chenopodium 

 Quinua, L.) This preparation is called Llucta or LUpta, In 

 using it, a piece is broken off, and masticated along with the 

 acullico. In some of the Montana regions the Llucta is made 



