Chap. XIV. STRENGTH-GIVING PROPERTIES. 233 



chew it, Garcilasso do la Vega relates the following anecdote. 

 " I remember a story which I heard in my native land of 

 Peru, of a gentleman of rank and honour, named Rodrigo 

 Pantoja, who, travelling from Cuzco to Rimac (Lima), met a 

 poor Spaniard (for there are poor people there as well as 

 here) who was going on foot, with a little girl aged two years 

 on his back. The man was known to Pantoja, and they thus 

 conversed. ' Why do you go laden thus ? ' said the knight. 

 The poor man answered that he was unable to hire an Indian 

 to carry the child, and for that reason he carried it himself. 

 While he spoke Pantoja looked in his mouth, and saw that it 

 was full of coca ; and, as the Spaniards abominate all that 

 the Indians eat and drink, as though it savoured of idolatry, 

 particularly the chewing of coca, which seems to them a low 

 and vile habit, he said, ' It may be as you say, but why do 

 you eat coca like an Indian, a thing so hateful to Spaniards ?' 

 The man answered, ' In truth, my lord, I detest it as much as 

 any one, but necessity obliges me to imitate the Indians, and 

 keep coca in my mouth ; for I would have you to know that, 

 if I did not do so, I could not carry this bm-den ; while the 

 coca gives me sufficient strength to endure the fatigue.' Pan- 

 toja was astonished to hear this, and told the stoiy wherever 

 he went ; and from that time credit was giving to the Indians 

 for using coca from necessity, and not from vicious gluttony." 

 The Spanish Government interfered with the cultivation 

 from more worthy motives, and niitas of Indians, for the 

 purpose of collecting coca-leaves, were forbidden in 1569, 

 owing to the reputed unhealthiness of the valleys.* Finally 

 Don Francisco Toledo, viceroy of Peru, permitted the culti- 

 vation with voluntary labour, on condition that the Lidians 

 were well paid, and that care was taken of their healths. 

 This most prolific of Peruvian legislators issued no less than 



■* Solorzano, Polit. Ind., lib. ii. cap. 10, quoted by Uiianue. 



