ship’’. Whiffen adds that formerly, births, weddings and other similar 
occasions were celebrated with gifts of ambil and coca, and he refers 
to the importance of ambil in Witoto mythology. 
Monconill (46) describes the preparation of ambil by the Witoto, 
stating that for thickening either yuca or the liquid containing tapioca, 
which results when yuca is squeezed to make cazabe, is used; the 
product is hard when cool. He writes that when the Indians have a 
meeting ‘‘they place in the center of the group a small vessel con- 
taining a little cold water and a little ash from the cooking fire. . . 
and with the fingers they dissolve a ball of tobacco. They go on talk- 
ing and in sign of assent. . . put a finger in and lick it; others put 
more than one finger in, or a small stick, ete. ... They continue 
chewing coca. . . licking their fingers smeared with tobacco from time 
to time to signify applause. . . . Thus at times they pass the night.”’ 
Callela (16) describes ambil among the Siona, a tribe which “‘cooks 
the leaf and cools the mixture. The leaves are removed, pounded and 
put into the liquid again. This continues to evaporate. More water 
is added until the mixture is very thick. When it is thick, they add 
husks of cacao colorado de monte (Herrania sp., probably H. breviligu- 
lata), burned to ash and sifted, also peel of green plantain, also re- 
‘duced toash, and the bark of yoco (Paullinia Yoco). All this they mix 
with the tobacco. They put it into a gourd (puro), and from this they 
take it. Some only lick it; others, more daring, swallow it. It is very 
strong. It causes dizziness in those not accustomed to it.”’ 
[ 53 | 
