The question of who uses chim6 or has used it in the 
past involves some striking facts connected with this 
curious utilization of tobacco. 
Acosta Saignes (1) draws on both the writings of the 
early chroniclers and 19th Century authors on Venezuelan 
history in reviewing the Timoto-Cuica culture of the re- 
gion now included in the States of Mérida, ‘Tachira and 
Trujillo. He reports that tobacco use was shared by them 
with other tribes; that it was employed in a character- 
istic form—chim6 (also known as mo); that this use ex- 
tended throughout the region, even as far as Barinas, 
where it persists to this day. Whether this use was re- 
stricted to certain individuals or was general remains a 
question. Quoting other writers, Acosta Saignes con- 
tinues that wrao was utilized by these Indians in the 
preparation of chim6 (see note on wrao). 
This highland population of hunting and maize- 
growing Indians was exterminated, according to Wissler 
(70), by the Spaniards. Over a period of about two hun- 
dred years, almost the entire Indian population of the 
west coast of Venezuela as well as of the highlands was 
destroyed as colonization proceeded. Initially responsible 
for this decimation were the Welsers (Belzares), a firm 
of German bankers to whom, in 1529, Charles V ceded 
the land between Capes Maracapana and Vela with the 
hinterland. Their occupation was terminated by Royal 
decree in 1556, but they remained there ten years longer. 
The Crown stipulated that they must administer their 
concession and protect the Indians. They disregarded 
everything but the opportunity to enrich themselves, 
searching for gold (especially *‘2// Dorado’’) and captur- 
ing and enslaving the Indians (64). Many of the Indians 
were put to work in mines or in pearl fishing before 
Negro labor was introduced, and many died in this un- 
accustomed and very hard work. 
[ 13 ] 
