COCA 89 



that their daily toil subjects them to the severest of 

 hardships and the most frugal fare. Barefooted they 

 travel over rocks and through swamps, amid cold 

 rain, and penetrating mist that nearly always prevails, 

 their wages too insignificant to mention, being but a 

 dollar or two for the entire trip, out of which they 

 supply their own provisions and other necessities. 



"Coca-using Indians of Colombia do not chew the 

 leaf, but suck the saliva-made juice from the huge 

 boluses of coca leaves mixed with lime, stored in the 

 cheek. So far as known, this has been the method of 

 these people from the traditional past. These coca 

 users are typical specimens of perfect physical man- 

 hood, being muscular and well formed. Whether this 

 is due to the coca, or is in spite of the coca, is a question 

 we did not solve. Their food is simple and sparing, 

 consisting of corn, a little sugar, no fruits, no nuts, 

 no fish, little meat, and occasionally beans or rice. 

 Their endurance to both the fatigue of travel and ex- 

 posure to the elements is phenomenal. From early 

 daylight to the dusk of night they run or walk rapidly. 

 Then, after supper (their first meal since morning), 

 they sleep in a rude 'shack' with no other cover than 

 their capes to protect them from the penetrating 

 cold of the damp air and wet ground. The disposi- 

 tion of these Indians is exceptionally pleasant, they 

 being ever genial and good natured. Not one sour, 

 disagreeable, mentally unbalanced or wicked coca- 

 using man or woman did we meet. 



"During the passage through their country, the only 

 chronic sickness that we observed among them was 

 a severe eye affection, due probably to the smoke of 



