PHAON COMET HUMMING-BIRD. 23 



the country round Potosi ; nothing is to 

 be seen but bare rocks, covered with moss. 

 The mountains are tipped with perpetual 

 snow. 



The poor Indian would fare badly 

 enough, but for certain plants, which are 

 given by Nature for his comfort. There 

 is a plant which grows at a great height 

 above the sea, and in places where no 

 other seed or grain could ripen. It is 

 called quinoa, and the seeds can be pre- 

 pared in many different ways. The leaves 

 can also be made into a kind of beer. 



But the greatest consolation to the 

 Indian is another plant called coca, which 

 is abundant in the sheltered valleys. It 

 thrives in these tropical spots, and also on 

 the heights, and is as carefully cultivated 

 and as important as the crop of corn is 

 with us. 



The plantations of coca are seen on the 



