Apaporis, the Igarapé Peritome, which empties into the Apapo- 
ris slightly downstream from the great Cachivera de Yayacopi. 
These people have apparently long lived detached from the 
main body of the tribe, who live on the Rio Popeyaca. In 1951, 
this isolated group numbered hardly more than 75 individuals. 
They appear to have fled into their jungle fastness some SO years 
ago, rather than submit to enforced labour in the balata-forests. 
Whether or not this novel method of preparing coca is an 
innovation of these Tanimukas or represents a vestige of a once 
more widespread culture trait surviving only in this small band 
cannot now be determined. But in my 14 years of living amongst 
the natives of the northwest Amazon, I never encountered this 
or any similar method of preparing the narcotic powder. It is 
noteworthy, nevertheless, that the Tanimukas of the Popeyaca, 
as well as Yukunas, Makunas and other neighbouring peoples, 
occasionally journey to the Peritomé Tanimukas, especially 
immediately before important dances or festivals, to purchase 
large supplies of the Peritome coca. And this has continued 
apparently for many years, notwithstanding the fact that the 
necessary plant ingredients are to be found abundantly through- 
out the whole area. 
The refinement, if it may be so termed, to which I refer lies in 
the use of the resin of a tree, Protium heptaphyllum (Schultes et 
Cabrera 15681), in preparing the usual coca-ash mixture. 
Long and slender tubes or “cigarettes” of rolled and partly 
dried leaves of /schnosiphon are tamped half full with small 
lumps of the brittle, whitish resin. The tip of that part of the 
“cigarette” containing the resin is lighted and brought to a glow 
by a gentle blowing through the tube. 
In the meantime, several armfuls of dried leaves of Cecropia 
are set afire on the earthen floor of the house and reduced to 
ashes. The ashes are then scraped together into a small, more or 
less conical pile. Before the ashes are completely cooled, several 
men with resin tubes insert the glowing ends of the tubes into 
sundry places in the ash pile and blow vigorously. This process, 
which fills the house with a pleasant myrrh-like aroma, conti- 
nues for seven or eight minutes or until most of the resin in the 
tubes is spent. 
54 
