(Spruce R. [Ed. A. R. Wallace] Notes of 



mazon 



and Andes 2 (1908) 413 -425). All reports have indi- 

 cated that the bark is prepared as either a decoction or infusion 

 and is ceremonially drunk. 



During a recent brief visit to Araracuara on the Rio Caqueta 

 in the Comisaria del Amazonas of Colombia, it was discovered 

 that the Witoto Indians, who cultivate Banisteriopsis Caapi, do 

 not employ it as a drink but smoke the dried and crushed leaves 

 and young bark. Although the Andoques, who live in the same 

 area, apparently use Banisteriopsis as a drink, there is evidence 

 not yet fully substantiated that they likewise smoke the drug; but 

 their usual employment of it is as a drink (La Rotta: Univ. Nac, 

 Colombia, Dept. Biologia, Corporation de Araracuara, Ob- 

 servaciones Etnobotdnicas sobre Algunas Especies Utilizadas 



Comunidad 



59) 



Several juvenile, cultivated plants of Banisteriopsis Caapi 

 were noted in the locality. Conversation with a knowledgeable 



Witoto medicine man indicated that leave* arp HrieH hrr»L-^n 



mall 



medicine men 

 smoked with t< 



Helieonia plant. It is smoked in ceremonies by 

 for its vision-producing properties. It is never 



tion produced would be extremely strong and long-lasting and 

 would induce very unpleasant after-effects. 



Witotos 



The An- 



doques recognize several "kinds" of the yaje liana, "according 

 to the spirit of the animal that possesses the person who has 

 initiated the taking of the drink: with inotaino ', the person is 

 transformed into a jaguar; with hapataino ', into a boa; and with 

 kadanytaino ', into a hawk" (La Rotta: loc. cit.). 



The Witoto Indians are noteworthy in using biodynamic 

 plants in ways that differ markedly from those of other neigh- 



Amazonia 



m 



m 



'risticaceous Virola, for example, they— together with their 

 neighbours, the Boras— prepare pellets or "pills" from the resin- 

 like exudate of the bark of several species of Virola for halluci- 



62 



