gg PHARMACOPEIA!, DRUGS 



permitted to enjoy through thy progenitors, the sun, 

 the moon, the earth, and the boundless hills." 



A plant so regarded necessarily fell under the adverse 

 criticism of the devoutly religious, early Spanish ex- 

 plorers, who naturally directed their efforts against 

 everything that, in their opinion, constituted a part of 

 heathen worship, and diverted the natives from the 

 true God. This is shown by the following quotation 

 from Mortimer (45 la) : 



"In 1569 the Spanish audience at Lima, composed of 

 bishops from all parts of South America, denounced 

 Coca because, as they asserted, it was a pernicious leaf, 

 the chewing of which the Indians supposed gave them 

 strength, and was hence 'Un delusio del demonio.' " 



In this connection the following quotation will in- 

 dicate how distasteful are the methods of the natives, 

 even yet, to those whose first duty consists in suppress- 

 ing such ceremonies as are therein described: 



"When the period for departure (on a dangerous jour- 

 ney. L.) actually arrives, the Indians throw Coca in 

 the air, just as did the Incan priests of old, to propitiate 

 the gods of the mountains, who, presumably, do not 

 wish their domains invaded." 



The native Indian use of coca was unquestionably 

 exhibited where it was necessary for men to make the 

 most exhausting physical effort, as the Indian "run- 

 ners" of the Andes, carrying with them a modicum of 

 food or other burdens. A few coca leaves sufficed as a 

 hunger pacifier, and upon this as a basis the runners 

 underwent the most exhausting and exacting journeys. 

 It was accepted by observing travelers that the leaves, 

 being chewed, would yield an abundance of "vital 

 strength." The endurance of people thus employing 



