ITS PREPARATION. 19 



Smyth for the Hakluyt Society, 1857), speaking of the 

 Island of Hispaniola, he says : — 



" In this island, as also in other provinces of these 

 new countries, there are some bushes, not very large, 

 like reeds, that produce a leaf in shape like that of the 

 walnut, though rather larger, which (where it is used) 

 is held in great esteem by the natives, and very much 

 prized by the slaves whom the Spaniards have brought 

 from Ethiopia. 



" When these leaves are in season, they pick them, 

 tie them up in bundles, and suspend them near their 

 fireplace till they are very dry ; and when they wish 

 to use them, they take a leaf of their grain (maize), 

 and putting one of the others into it, they roll them 

 round tight together; then they set fire to one end, 

 and putting the other end into the mouth, they draw 

 their breath up through it, wherefore the smoke goes 

 into the mouth, the throat, the head, and they retain 

 it as long as they can, for they find a pleasure in it ; 

 and so much do they fill themselves with this cruel 

 smoke, that they lose their reason. And there are 

 some who take so much of it, that they fall down as 

 if they were dead, and remain the greater part of the 

 day or night stupified. Some men are found who are 

 content with imbibing only enough of this smoke to 

 make them giddy, and no more. See what a wicked 

 and pestiferous poison from the devil this must be. 

 It has happened to me several times that, going 

 through the provinces of Guatemala and Nicaragua, 

 I have entered the house of an Indian who had taken 



c 2 



