240 COCA. 



narrow baskets, and laden theyr slieepe of the country, 

 which go in troopes with one, two, or three thousand 

 baskets of this marchandise. They bring it commonly from 

 the valleys of the Andes, where there is an extreame heate, 

 and where it raines continually the most part of the yeare ; 

 wherein the Indians endure much labour and paine to 

 entertaine it, and often many die, for that they go from the 

 Sierra and colde places to till and gather them in the valleys. 

 And therefore there hath beene great question and diversity 

 of opinions among learned men, whether it were more 

 expedient to pull vp these trees, or to let them growe, but 

 in the end they remained. The Indians esteeme it much, 

 and in the time of their Kings Yncas it was not lawfull for 

 any of the common people to vse this Coca without licence 

 from the Governor. Their vse is to carry it in their mouthes, 

 chawing it and sucking out the iuyce, but they swallow it 

 not. They say it gives them great courage, and is very 

 pleasing vnto them. Many grave men holde this as a 

 superstition and a meere imagination ; for my part, and to 

 speake the truth, I perswade not my selfe that it is an 

 imagination; but contrariwise, I thinke it works and gives 

 force and courage to the Indians ; for we see the effects 

 which cannot be attributed to imagination, as to go some 

 daies without meate, but onely ahandfull of Coca, and other 

 like effects. The sauce wherewith they doe eate this Coca 

 is proper enough, whereof I have tasted, and it is like the 

 taste of leather. The Indians mingle it with the ashes of 

 bones, burnt and beat into powder, or with, lime, as others 

 affirm e, which seemeth to them pleasing and of a good 

 taste ; and they say it dooth them much good. They 

 willingly imploy their money therein, and vse it as money ; 

 yet all these things were not inconvenient, were not the 

 hazard of the trafficke thereof, wherein so many men are 

 occupied. The Lords Yncas vsed Coca as a delicate and 

 royall thing, which they offered most in their sacrifices, 

 burning it in honor of their idolls. 



