COCA 85 



valued, from the earliest records, by the natives of Peru, 

 Chili, Colombia and Bolivia, the tree being called "The 

 Divine Plant of the Incas." In 1569, Monardes (447), 

 of Seville, published an article on the drug, reproduced, 

 1577, in London. (Dowdeswell, [196a]). This is among 

 the first references to the drug in print known to us. 

 It was followed by the botanical description, by Clusius 

 (153), in 1605. 



The history of coca, in its many phases, is presented 

 by several travelers and authors, one of the first to intro- 

 duce it to Europeans being W. J. Hooker (324), in his 

 ''Companion to the Botanical Magazine," London, 

 1835. Several pages of this work are devoted to the 

 South American uses of coca, the same being credited 

 to Dr. Poeppig's "Reise in Chile, Peru, und auf dem 

 Amazonenstrome." From this historical' contribution 

 we present portions, following, pertinent to the coca 

 subject. 



Among the most interesting of the more recent pub- 

 lications treating of coca is a large illustrated volume 

 of near 600 pages, by W. Golden Mortimer, M. D., 

 (451a), under the title, "Peru, History of Coca," New 

 York, 1901. From this work we also gain much insight 

 into the early history and customs of the coca users, as 

 indicated by the passages that follow. 



That coca was honored in their sacred ceremonies by 

 the natives of the lands producing it, is evidenced by 

 the following "recital" (451a) addressed to the sov- 

 ereign: 



"Oh, mighty lord, son of the Sun and of the Incas, 

 thy fathers, thou who knoweth of the bounties which 

 have been granted thy people, let me recall the blessings 

 of the divine Coca, which thy privileged subjects are 



