Nores—Parr II 
1. Uses and names for tobacco among primitives. Tobacco plays many 
roles in primitive societies (21): 1) curative of certain diseases and 
wounds and defense against insects and pests; 2) preventive of hun- 
ger, thirst, fatigue and restorative of physical and mental energy; 
3) ceremonial; 4) medium of exchange; 5) source of pleasure to taste 
and smell and as a narcotic or stimulant in a variety of methods of 
consumption. 
Synonyms for tobacco are many; among them are: Brazil, petum 
or petun; Peru, sayre; Colombia, yuri; Aztec Mexico, picietl, yietl (34). 
Sundry Indian tribes have their own names for tobacco (48). The 
Spanish word is tabaco. 
2. Contexts of use. La Barre (40) points out that the significant 
distinguishing factor between aboriginal and present uses is that the 
former had a sacred context. Since it altered the psychic state, to- 
bacco was believed to possess supernatural power. 
Some authorities explain its passing into hedonic use today by the 
fact that, as primitive groups were exposed to civilized customs, their 
own cultures deteriorated. In their resultant insecurity and despair, 
these groups turned to a generalized use of tobacco and other nar- 
cotics for comfort and reassurance. 
3. Coca and chimé parallels. With both coca and chimé, a plant sub- 
stance containing a narcotic, together with an alkalizing agent, is put 
into the mouth and kept there where its active constituents are ab- 
sorbed through the mucous membrane. With coca, where saliva is 
usually swallowed, the stomach is also involved. 
Users of both coca and chim6 claim the same effects: prevention 
of hunger and fatigue and soothing of body and spirit. The Kogi 
alone deny to investigators that they use coca to banish hunger; these 
people assert that they take coca because it is pleasant and prevents 
sleepiness, so that they can talk all night with the Old Time Ones 
(Los Antiguos). They scorn any admission of hunger (51). 
Both coca and chim6o are used at frequent intervals, the user carry- 
ing them on his person in special containers. 
Frequently, coca and tobacco concentrate are taken simultaneous- 
ly. The Cagaba (Kogi) rub tobacco concentrate on their teeth and 
gums while chewing coca which, they say, tastes better (47, 51, 63). 
The Witoto place a little ambil on the tip of the tongue, just before 
taking coca, according to Schultes (55), who adds that coca alone is 
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