3&8 Appendix. 



tobacco-chevN ers, but swallowed together with the substance 

 extracted from the plant. Employed in this way, the Coca 

 enables the people, whose principal articles of substance 

 are maize and potatoes to undergo the toil of cultivating the 

 Jand, the labour of working the mines, the fatigue of tending 

 herds of cattle in the mountains, and other severe exercises. 

 In short they find the coca capable of repairing lost vigour, 

 of withstanding the assaults of time, of opposing the inroads 

 of the elements, and of performing in short, the function of 



a true * elevating the spirits on occasions of trouble 



and inducing a forgetfulness of the ills of life, as is observed 

 in the Odyssey, on the drink piepared by Helen to refresh 

 her guests : 



Charmed by that virtuous draught, th' exalted mind, 

 All sense of woe delivers to the wind. 



Lib. iv. 



From analysis it appears, that the Coca contains much 

 gum and no resin. The gum has a bitter and stimulant 

 taste ; and the leaves exhale an agreeable smell. When 

 chewed, the coca is warm to the tongue and palate, stimu- 

 lates the glands, and provokes a copious flow of saliva. 

 This, with the abundance of gum expressed and swallowed, 

 produces a most comfortable operation on the stomach, 

 which is nourished and supported by the gum. In some 

 weakly persons who are not accustomed to its action, the 

 nerves are sometimes affected, and an agreabie sleepiness 

 induced. If an alkali, (such as quick lime, for example) 

 is mixed with coca in chewing, the virtues are much in- 

 creased. Its virtues are considered as tonic, nutritive 

 and calming. Hence are explained the remarkable ben- 

 efits derived from it by the well Indians. They who are 

 sick, may be thrown into a sweat by drinking a hot tea 

 of it. It is excellent against the humid asthma. In the 

 same preparation it strengthens the stomach, removes ob- 

 stroctions, loosens the bowels, and relieves coHcs. It is an 

 admirable remedy for hypochondriacs, and dyspeptics. 

 They who are addicted to chewing it, have fine and sound 

 teeth. 



* A word in the MS. was here rendered illegible by the seal; the idea is 

 however, fully exhibited by what follows. — [Editor.'] 



