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some and guayavoche and cagua by others (though I am not cer- 
tain that the two latter names refer to the same plant as chaco), 
are used in preparing the ayawasca beverage. Different plants 
may be used, and I obtained no specimens under the name of 
guayavoche and cagua. According to some of my informants, the 
ayawasca is often used alone and this checks up with Spruce’s 
account. In preparing the drink, pounded pieces of the vine aya- 
wasca are put in a pot on top of a layer of chaco leaves, then 
another layer of chaco leaves, then ayawasca, and so on until the 
pot is full. Water is added and the whole boiled until the liquor 
is the color of wine. As much as a quart may be taken by one 
person at a time, if one is used to taking it. The decoction thus 
made is said to last for a long time when bottled, and is sold for 
diversion purposes at the fiestas of some of the Peruvian Indians 
that have come into this part of the country as rubber collectors. 
The dried stems of the vine are also said to retain their power for 
at least a year, but the value of the chaco leaves vanishes on drying. 
Long before I obtained actual specimens, I heard numerous 
stories about what tribes used it—usually they were distant ones— 
and definite data were quite difficult to obtain until I reached this 
place, where, through a Spanish-Indian helper, I was enabled to 
secure specimens of the vine and what I believe to be fairly accu- 
rate information concerning its habitat, rarity, characteristics, prep- 
aration, and effect. My information differs in detail from Spruce’s 
account, but in general they check each other. Of course, I did 
not see any ceremonial usages and I doubt if these people now use 
it with much of the ancient form. So far as I could gather, they 
take it for its weird effect, just as some people use whiskey. 
When I first heard of it, I surmised it might be hasheesh, as part 
of the effect appears to be similar. The effect from drinking 
ayawasca comes with rather amazing rapidity—Spruce says two 
minutes—and they told me it was very soon. The first phase, in 
general, is a state of courageous drunkenness, though at the very 
first the Indian turns pale, and there is much trembling. Suddenly 
he perspires, dances with wild and reckless abandon, and has a 
boastful, courageous fit, in which he rushes about inflicting violent 
blows and boasting of what he would do to his enemies, though 
his blows may fall on his friends in the absence of enemies. 
