388 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1916. 



considered a pious task to sweep the ground where the ololiuhqui 

 grew. Among the Zunis and the Indians of Arizona and Southern 

 California the roots and other parts of a closely allied Datura were 

 used in incantations and initiatory ceremonies. Among the Indians 

 of Virginia the common Datura straTnonimn was used in a similar 

 ceremony (huskinawing) to cause intoxication of candidates for 

 initiation; and it is interesting to note that in the Andes of Peru 

 a related tree datura, Brugmansia sanguinea, was used by the 

 priests of the Temple of the Sun to induce exhilaration accompanied 

 by supernatural visions. 



Other narcotic plants belonging to the Solanaceae, or Nightshade 

 Family, allied to the Mandragora and Hyoscj^amus of the Old World, 

 were species of Solandra, resembling climbing daturas with long 

 trumpet-shaped flowers; Himeranthus and Jaborosa of South 

 America, used as aphrodisiacs and in religious ceremonies; Salpi- 

 chroa and Acnistus, with properties like those of Afropa Belladonna; 

 and, in addition to these, a South American forest climber belonging 

 to the Malpighiaceae described by Richard Spruce under the name 

 Banisteria Caapi. 



Among nerve stimulants used by American aborigines must be 

 mentioned first of all Erythroxylon Coca, now of great importance 

 as the source of cocaine ; Ilex paraguariensis, the yerba mate, or Para- 

 guay tea, and its very close ally of our Southern States, Ilex vonii- 

 toria^ the basis of the celebrated " black drink " ; Theohrorna Cacao^ 

 from which chocolate is made; and Paullinia Cupana-^ the source of 

 the cupana or curana, of South America, which acts, somewhat like 

 tea, as a wholesome stimulant. 



Among alcoholic intoxicants were chicha or azua, prepared by 

 fermenting gruel made from grains of maize or chenopodium, to 

 which various fruitijuices were sometimes added; tizwin, or teshuino, 

 made by our southwestern Indians from sprouting maize or other 

 grains, and also from mezquit pods or cactus fruits; and a fermented 

 drink prepared in South America from the roots of mandioca. From 

 the sap of certain species of palms wine was made in various parts 

 of tropical America, and from century plants, or agaves, and yuccas 

 the Mexicans made their fermented pctli, or pulque. The art of dis- 

 tilling was unknown in ancient America, but with the fermented 

 liquors above mentioned, often strengthened by narcotic herbs, roots, 

 or seeds, many of the aboriginal tribes succeeded in " getting glori- 

 ously drunk," as one of the early Spanish writers declared. Some of 

 them were addicted to most disgusting forms of debauchery long 

 before they came under the degrading influence of civilization, so 

 often deplored by travelers and missionaries.^ 



1 See Spix and Martius. Raise in Brasilien, 3 : 1075. 1831 ; and Robert Southey, 

 History of Brazil, 3 : 722-723. 1819. 



