Astonishing Properties of the Coca in diminishing fatigue. 405 



In April, 1859, Mr. Campbell despatched a native from La 

 Paz to Tacna, a distance of 249 English miles, which the Indian 

 accomplished in four days. He rested one day at Tacna, and 

 set off the following morning on his return journey, in the 

 course of which he had to cross a pass 13,000 feet in height. 

 It would seem that throughout the whole of this immense 

 journey on foot, he followed the Indian custom of taking no 

 other sustenance than a little roasted maize and coca leaves, 

 which he carried in a little pouch at his side, and chewed 

 from time to time.* 



Like other experienced travellers, Mr. Campbell, who has 

 lived over 14 years in Bolivia, is of opinion that a moderate 

 use of coca exercises no prejudicial influence upon the general 

 health, but simply tends to make the Indian races of the 

 higher regions of the Andes more capable of continued la- 

 borious work. Many coca-chewers attain a great age, and 

 Mr. Campbell knew one such, who had taken part in the 

 insurrection of Tupac- Amaru in 1781, and at the time of my 

 visit, 1859, was still in full possession of all his faculties. In 

 short, as in the case of opium and wine, it would seem that 

 it is only the abuse of coca that is followed by evil conse- 

 quences. 



The coca is less cultivated in Peru than in Bolivia, and 

 the leaves are not in such request among the Quichua as 



* The mail goes four times a month from La Paz to Tacna, and usually weighs 

 25 lbs., which the courier carries on his back and delivers within some five or six 

 days, without other nourishment than that already specified ! 



