PHAON COMET HUMMING-BIRD. 199 



quinoa, and the seeds can be prepared in many 

 different ways. The leaves can also be made into 

 a kind of beer. 



But the greatest consolation to the Indian is 

 another plant called coca, which is abundant in 

 the sheltered valleys. It thrives in these tropical 

 spots, and also on the heights, and is as carefully 

 cultivated and as important as the crop of corn is 

 with us. 



The plantations of coca are seen on the steep 

 sides of the valleys, rising to an amazing height 

 above the level of the sea. The plant is about the 

 size of our English blackthorn, and has a shining 

 green foliage and small white flowers, which ripen 

 into scarlet berries. 



The berries are not used, but the leaves are 

 gathered and dried in the sun. They are chewed 

 by the Indian with great delight, and he is never 

 seen without his leathern pouch full of coca, and 

 which also contains a little box of powdered lime. 



His manner of chewing is to work up the morsel 

 of coca into a ball, then, taking it from his mouth, 

 he plunges a piece of wood like a tooth -pick into 



