packing requires p^reat care, as they lose their active properties 

 when briiisL-ci. When dry, they arc packed in parcels of about 

 241bs. weight, and are worth about '25c (Is.) a ))ound. The 

 Indians, the chief consumers of this drug, formerly held it in 

 superstitious reverence, calling it the divine plant, and consider 

 it as a sort of sanctuary of their God ; they put the leaves in the 

 mouth of the dead, as a propitiatory offering, formerly it was 

 only used -by the kings, priests, and those whose virtues, or 

 actions in war, or otherwise, rendered them worthy to be thus 

 rewarded. By degrees, however, this plant came into general 

 use, and is now the chief stimulant and narcotic of the Indian, 

 and one much used by him. Like tobacco and alcohol, it may 

 be, and indeed Js, useful and healthful in moderation, but very 

 disastrous in its effects when taken in excess. Those who use 

 the coca generally chew the leaves, rolling them up in a ball, and 

 adding a little quick-lime or wood ash to them, by means of a 

 slip of wood or needle carried for the purpose. This addition 

 brings out the taste, strength and flavour to a great extent. The 

 chewing is speedily followed by a copious supply of greenish 

 saliva, part of which is swallowed and part ejected. When one 

 supply of leaves is exhausted a fresh ball is prepared. The 

 Indian lies down, or rests in some other wa}', during this pro- 

 cess of chewing, which usually lasts from ten minutes to half- 

 an-hour, according to the quantity of work to be done, or the 

 amount of fatigue undergone ; his period of rest is taken two or 

 three times a day. After finishing the chewing, the Indian gets 

 up, lights a cigarette, and returns to his labour, strengthened and 

 refreshed. An Indian chews about an ounce of the leaves in the 

 twenty-four hours. There is no doubt that this plant, used in 

 moderation, is most useful in enabling a person, to endure pro- 

 longed exertion, fatigue, hunger, and cold : many would perish 

 on the march across the .\ndes were it not for this drug. Like 

 everything else, the use of coca may be abused, and in that case 

 has very diastrous results, and curious to say the abuse is 

 generally seen among the " whites" (if, indeed, one may so call 

 the swarthy Brazilian, Bolivian or Peruvian &:c.) As it is an Indian 

 habit, the Bolivian, or Peruvian gentleman is ashamed to indulge 

 in it before others, he therefore retires to his room, and chews 

 his coca in solitude. 



If the habit grows on him, and he gives himself up to excess 

 he retires to the woods for days, and indulges in his beloved 

 drug. He is now considered as lost by his friends, and is 

 looked upon as an irreclaimable drunkard is with us ; any one 

 giving up in this way to the habit, soon leaves the towns and 

 societies of civilized men, and betakes himself to the woods and 

 Indian villages, there to drag out the remainder of his miserable 

 existence. He is called a " coqucro," and becomes an object of 

 contempt and loathing to his friends. The result of chewing to 

 excess is a yellow skin, pale lips, sunken eye, an unsteady gait, 

 distressing dyspepsia, and eventually, dropsical swellings, boils 



