NAECOTIC PLANTS AND STIMULANTS SAFFOED. 395 



round form, resembling a trencher (come im tagliere), and that they 

 took it by means of a bifurcated tube, " con una canna di due rami, 

 che si mettono al naso." 



The description of Las Casas is even more precise. The snuff tray 

 he describes as " a plate, not flat but slightly concavish or deep, made 

 of wood, so handsome, smooth, and pretty that it could not be very 

 much more so were it made of gold or silver; it was almost black 

 and polished like jet" (cuasi negro y lucio como de azabache). In 

 describing the tube he says : 



The tube was fashioned the size of a flute and was quite hollow, like a 

 flute. From two-thirds of its length onward it divided by means of two 

 hollow canes, just as we open the two middle fingers, leaving out the thumb, 

 with the hand extended. The ends of these two canes inserted into the 

 windows of the nostrils and the base of the flute, let us say, into the powder 

 on the plate, they would draw in their breath and snuffing up, would receive 

 through the nostrils as much of the powder as they wished to take, which, 

 when taken, would go at once to the brain, almost as though they had drunk 

 strong wine; for they would become drunk or almost drunk * * *. It 

 was their custom, in coming together to decide difficult matters, such as the 

 maneuvers of one of their war parties, or the performance of other things 

 which they deemed important, to make their cohoba and with it intoxicate 

 themselves or nearly so to do * * *. I saw these people on several oc- 

 casions celebrate their cohoba, and it was an interesting spectacle to witness 

 how they took it and what they spake. The chief began the ceremony, and 

 while he was engaged all remained silent. When he had taken his cohoba 

 (that is, when he had snuffed up the powder through his nostrils, as I have 

 described), they being seated on certain handsomely carved low benches which 

 they called duohos (the first syllable long), he remained silent for a while 

 with his head inclined to one side and his arms placed on his knees. Then he 

 raised his face heavenward, uttering certain words which must have been his 

 prayer to the true God, or to him whom he held as God; after which all 

 I esponded, almost as we do when we say amen ; and this they did with a loud 

 voice or sound. Then they gave thanks and said to him certain complimentary 

 things, entreating his benevolence and begging him to reveal to them what 

 he had seen. He described to them his vision, saying that the Cemi had 

 spoken to him and had predicted good times or the contrary, or that children 

 were to be born or to die, or that there was to be some dispute with their 

 neighbors, and other things which might come to his imagination, all dis- 

 turbed with that intoxication; or if perhaps without it, what the devil, to 

 deceive them and win them to his worship, had brought to them.* 



The snuff itself was described by Las Casas as " finely ground and 

 of the color of cinnamon or powdered henna " (de color de canela 6 

 de alheiia molida).^ 



iLas Casas. Apol. Hist, de las Indias, Chap. 1C6, pp. 445-446, ed. Serrano y Saenz, 



Madrid. 1909. 



zAlhena is the name of the so-called Egyptian privet, Lawsonia inermis, the powdered 

 leaves of which, called henna, were used by the Egyptians for coloring their flnger-nalls. 

 The fragrant flowers of this plant are the principal source of the perfume wafted by 

 the breezes of " Araby the Blest." 



