404 Voyage of the Novara. 



upon the system, and the marvels that have been achieved 

 by its use, that I may well be excused from dwelling at 

 length upon the habit which prevails among the Indians of 

 chewing coca, or on its importance as a chief article of sub- 

 sistence for several millions of our fellow-creatures. I may, 

 however, mention certain instances which came within my 

 own jjersonal knowledge, as also a few statistical data relating 

 to the annual consumption of coca in Peru and Bolivia, and 

 the economical importance of this cultivation. 



A Scotchman named Campbell, who was settled as a mer- 

 chant at Tacna in Bolivia, and with whom I travelled to Eu- 

 rope from Lima, informed me that a few years before, being 

 engaged upon matters of m^gent business, he had performed 

 in one day a distance of 90 English miles on mule-back, and 

 throughout that long distance had been accompanied by an 

 Ay mar a Indian, who kept up easily with the mule, without 

 other refreshment than a few grains of roasted maize and 

 coca leaves, which, mingled with undissolved chalk, he chewed 

 incessantly. On reaching the station where he was to pass the 

 night, Mr. Campbell, though mounted on an excellent animal, 

 found himself greatly fatigued ; the guide, on the other hand, 

 after lie had stood on his head for a few minutes* and had drank 

 a glass of brandy, set off without further delay on his home- 

 ward journey ! ! 



* This custom of the Aymara Indians, not less universal than extraordinary, of 

 standing on their heads after long and fatiguing marches, seems to be the result of 

 an instinct which teaches them how best to mitigate the severe pressure of the 

 blood. 



