highland Kechwa. ‘There is, however, as Schultes points 
out, no real proof on which to base such a theory (45). 
They also take yajé, making use of Banisteriopsis qui- 
tense, B.inebrians and B. Rusbyana. From these narcotic 
lianas, they prepare a drink employed preferentially by 
the witch-doctors for magic purposes. Occasionally, 
other plants are added to the Banisteriopsis, some of 
which are not malpighiaceous: a species of tree-Datura, 
the amaranthaceous A/ternanthera Lehmannii and, some- 
times, tobacco-leaves (47). 
Kofan: linguistic family Chibcha, according to Rivet 
(38) and to Jijén y Caamafio (18a); family uncertain or 
unknown according to Ortiz (26) and to Mason (24a). 
Cf. Castellvi classification (4). 
The Kofins are located near Puerto Ospina on the 
Putumayo River and on the Sucumbios and Guamiiés 
Rivers in the Colombian Comisaria del Putumayo and 
along the Aguarico River in adjacent Ecuador. 
Tobacco is important to the Kofans. It is used in long 
rolls or pressed cakes, similar to those found amongst the 
Tukanoan groups of the Vaupés. Both tribes now im- 
port the rolls from Brazil. The Kofans use also the con- 
centrated extract, which they call ambi/, as do the Wito- 
tos of the Amazonas (51). 
Yajé, made especially of Banisteriopsis inebrians and 
probably also of B. quitense, is one of their more impor- 
tant narcotics, and its use is not confined to the priestly 
or doctoring class. 
The Kofans are the most excessive users of yoco, which 
is consumed daily by all individnals. When the wild 
supply of this forest vine is exhausted in a region, an 
entire settlement may move in order to locate itself near 
anew and adequate supply. It is never cultivated, since 
it is such a slow-growing liana (47). 
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