168 SOME ACCOUNT OF THE USEs : 
while on their journey, by covering them away. A little calabash contains vel 
with woollen wrappers, causes the Coca to finely pounded lime, but never in North 
heat, like bad hay, and to lose its flavour Peru, the ashes of the lant, as is men- 
and colour. tioned by Mr. V. Martius (Vol. IIT. p. 1169, - 
The consumption of Coca is confined to 1180). A small metal needle runs through — 
Peru, where, however, it is nearly univer- the stopper, this is moistened when used, - 
Sal All the people of the lower class are turned about in the pounded lime, and | 
addicted to this usage, but the Negroes drawn into the mouth by the ball of chewed . e 
and inhabitants of the coast form an occa- leaves, taking care not to touch the ‘lips 4 
sional exception. The Indians of the Sierra with the caustic lime, which would excori- 
cannot live without it, and the usage exists ate the palate even of the practised co- ae 
even among the districts of the warm mon- guero. But the teeth are infallibly dee 
tafia. Such a superstitious feeling attaches stroyed by it, and the Peruvians, who are 
to this practice, that the lowest classes at addicted to this custom, have all a horrible - 
Huanuco thrust Coca into the mouth of set of black and carious teeth. A work- — 
the dying, and infer his future blessedness man of the common class, particularly if — . 
from the pleasure which the taste of this he be a real Indian, daily consumes from | 
herb seems to impart to him. Below the an ounce to an ounce and half of Coca; - 
Pongo of the Huallaga, and on the Marañon the more extravagant chewers double this — | 
it is hardly known, so that it excites sur- allowance, and even sometimes raise itto 
prize to meet with the custom again at S. four ounces. At Olivenza, where, as well — 
Paulo (Olivenza), where the shrub is call- asat Ega, a small Cocal was lately estab- 
ed Ypadá. Owing, however, to the low lished, they dry the leaves rapidly by means 
situation and heat of the climate, its habit of fire, and pound them, whilst hot, in a — 
— - is very different from the Peruvian plant, mortar, thus dissipating, it is said, their — 
and no less inferior in the quality of its peculiar properties. The Peruvians, whose ; 
- foliage, which is further prepared and treat- intimate acquaintance with this subject, no ` 
: ed in such a manner as to deprive it even one, unhappily, can deny, are of opinion - 
of its trifling properties. Wherever the that too much heat deprives even the best | 
sway and manners of the Incas have pre- Coca of the active principle, that a warm 
vailed in Peru, there you find the Coca; climate will spoil the Coca del Dia in ten : 
but it disappears in those districts where months, while it continues good for a year - 
the Aborigines were first subjugated by the and a half in the cold and dry districts of 
Whites. For this cause, it is seen in La- the Andes.. i 
mas, but not near Maynas, for its introduc- All old authors agree that the use of 
tion into Brazil is of modern date, and it 
finds but a very limited number of votaries 
there. To the North, the Coca is known 
almost throughout Quito, Pasto, Popayan, 
and Cauca; but scarcely in Venezuela. 
= Upper Peru, and Cuzco produce a good 
. deal, which is consumed in the immediate 
neighbourhood, as neither Chili nor the Conquistadores, that they, unable to detect | 
States of Plata have adopted the custom. any thing agreeable or efficacious in th 
With the exception of the Brazils, the leaf, ascribed its virtues to mere imagina- 
mode of using it is every where the same tion (cosa de pura imaginacion), a i 
as in Colombia, Peru, and Bolivia. The’ that was combated, however, by Acosta, 
 coquero carries a small bag with him, in who justly says, that the increased ability 
order to preserve the leaves entire, for he to labour, which the Indians display after 
considers the broken ones to be worth but taking a handful of Coca, cannot; be solely 
te, and the fragments and dust he throws the result of mental delusion. The cust 
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