426 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. I02 



1219. The Indians make their beverages in many ways in the Indies, 

 and especially in the Kingdom of Peru from corn and the moUeberry, 

 which resembles that of the mastic tree in Spain. In the Kingdom 

 of Chile they make it from another small fruit growing on low trees ; 

 both tree and berry are like our myrtle ; but this is the best beverage 

 of them all ; it can vie with grape wine in color and flavor ; it is of an 

 excellent golden color and its flavor sweet and pleasant. The Chileans 

 make it with great care and neatness, as we do ; it does not intoxicate, 

 clears up harmful humors, cheers the heart, warms the stomach, and 

 is excellent for the digestion. 



What they make from corn, which is the grain of the Indies, is 

 prepared in many ways. The usual sort is called jora or azua ; this 

 causes much drunkenness among the Indians and is a cloudy liquor. 

 To make it, they put the corn to soak and then wrap it up in some 

 matting or other covering and leave it some days until it has all 

 sprouted ; then they mash it very fine and let boiling water percolate 

 through the mass, and put it in their jars, jugs, or vessels until it 

 bubbles up like wine at the end of 2 days ; and as soon as it has 

 effervesced it acquires a pungent taste and they drink it and use it 

 for their drinking bouts ; when they build or plant, they make a 

 quantity, and give a ducking to all their relatives and friends, which 

 is the same as inviting them to the work and the celebration, and 

 so they carry out both operations, with a formal dance, festival, and 

 drinking bout. 



1220. For the making of another kind, the old Indian women, the 

 boys, and as many as are available for it, chew the corn, which makes 

 a very loathsome liquor ; it is to hurry it up and make it stronger ; 

 the process is the same as with the other. Another sort is made from 

 parched corn ; this is the best tasting and clearest, made by parching 

 the corn ; it is an excellent drink, healthful and refreshing ; it has 

 almost the taste of good mead. The molle beverage is made like the 

 other ; many people make a business of it and put up branches at 

 their doors so that the Indians will come to buy it. There is much 

 abuse in this, through their desire for gain, and many sins follow 

 it, as I wrote in my book "Luz y Guia del Cielo" (Light and Guide 

 to Heaven) on the seventh commandment, which I printed in the 

 year 1623. 



1221. From the town of Santa it is 70 leagues to Lima, and in 

 the tract between along the seacoast on the plains there are other 

 fertile valleys, such as Huambacho, Upper and Lower Casma, Huar- 

 mey, and La Barranca. These are all fertile and prolific ; they raise 

 quantities of wheat, corn, peanuts, pallares, kidney beans, chickpeas. 



