782 
THE TROPICAL 
AGRICULTURIST. [June i. 1895. 
Island named Pedro de Atrinza and thence to Pern 
in 1545. It is needless to say how great an addition 
that product has been to the wealth of the West 
Indies, and is now to Peru. The fruits and vege- 
tables of Europe multiplied in a marvellous way 
when first introduced into America. The old chro- 
nicler, Garcilasso de la Eega, declares that endives 
and spinach grew to such a size in the fields round 
Lima that a horse could not force bi-i way through 
them, and that near Arica there was a radish of 
such wonderful size that five horses were tethered 
under the shade of its leaves. The remarkable deve- 
lopment of vegetables when transplanted to a virgin 
Boil in a suitable habitat has more recently been 
demonstrated in New Zealand and other Colonies. 
Maize, Cassava, Potatoes. — When we come to con- 
sider what the Old World has received from America, 
We shall find that the debt is amply repaid. It may 
be that only one domesticated animal has been 
acquired by it as a result of the discovery of Colum- 
bus, namely, the turkey ; on the other hand, however 
maize has become a staple of food for millions of 
people in the south of Europe, in A^ia, and in Africa 
cassava has supplemented native food-supplies to a 
less, but still to an appreciable extent; potatoes have 
also become a very important source of food-supply 
in the Old World, while flourishing plantations of 
cacao have beeu established in India and Ceylon. 
Tobacco. — But the greatest revolution arising 
from the introduction of American products, has 
been caused by tobacco. The smoking of tobacco 
was first observed by two sailors, Rodrigo de Jerez 
and Luis de Tories, who were sent on a mission 
into the interior of Cuba by Columbus, on November 
6th, 1492. Before long eome Spaniards began to 
smoke, and when their habit was reprehended as a 
vice, they said they could not leave off. Sit John 
Hawkins first brought tobacco to England, and the 
Earl of Essex, Sir Walter Raleigh and other cour- 
tiers of Queei Elizabeth, soon became habitual 
smokers. Its introduction into India took place 
towards the end of the region of the Emperor Akbar, 
and soon had a most beneficent effect. Before to- 
bacco was known, it was a common thing for Asiatic 
princess to drink to excess or spend the day in eating 
intoxicating sweetmeats, death from delirium tremens 
being common. Asad Beg first saw tobacco at 
Bijapur: he brought a pipe and a stock of tobacco 
to Agra and presented them to the Emperor. The 
custom of smoking spread rapidly among the nobles, 
and simultaneous y the practice of excessive drinking 
went out. 
Cinchona. — Several mos 1 -, precious drugs were un- 
known before the discovery of America; but valuable 
as they are, their cultivation is necessarily le-s 
extensive than other introduced products, beciuse 
the demand is limited. Their cultivation should be 
rather the care of governments than a source of 
profit for planters and speculators ; but that cultiva- 
tion should not the less be a question deserviug ihe 
attention of settlers and colonists, because they ought 
to be deeply interested in its success. My great 
object in the introduction of the quinine-yielding- 
bark trees into India, was the reduction of the price 
of quinine to a minimum, io order that it might be 
within the reach of the poorest people in fever-stricken 
districts. This object has been fully attained, but 
it is not an object wbich would have the sympathy 
of planters ai such; although they should rejoie'e 
at it aB citizens aud patriots. Ipecacuanha-cultivation 
has also been introduced into India with good results. 
Coca Cultivation. 
Coca. — Since the coca leaf, another South American 
product, has been proved to possess great medical 
virtues, coca cultivation has become a subject well 
worthy of careful consideration by Indian aud Colon- 
ial administrators. I«j years now long gone by, I 
had opportunities of learning something of that 
cultivation, and of experiencing the effects of the 
cooa leaf; 60 it will perhaps be considered that, from 
some points of view, I may venture to address you 
a s an authority on the subject. Since the discovery 
0 f the alkaloid, coca has become an important addi- 
tjon to the pharmacopoeia; but it should be remem- 
bered that it had been for centuries a great source 
of comfort and enjoyment to the Peruvian Indians. 
It was much more than what betel is to the Hindu, 
kava to the South Sea Is'ander, and tobacco to l ha 
rest of muukind, for its use really produces invigo- 
rating effects which arc not possessed by those other 
stimulants or narcotics 
CoivUi/ ou the t'oci Leaf. — Male known in this 
country to the very few students who were acquainted 
with the Spanish Chronicles during the 17th ceiitury 
it is very curious to find that coca, and its virtues, 
were within the knowledge of Abraham Cowley, the 
Eoet of the days of ("harks 1 Mr. Martindale, who 
as written an excelleut littlo book ou coca snd co- 
caine, refers to a very curious allusion to coca in the 
writings of Cowle> [Book V. of Plant»). Bacchus is 
supposed to have filled a bowl with the juice of the 
grape for Omelichilus, an imaginary American deity, 
on which the god of the New Woild summons his 
own plan's to appear. Various fruits are marshalled 
on tueir branches, and Cowley even adds to bis 
poetic description of the virtues of coca a prophecy 
which has now become true. Apostrophising the leaf 
he 6ays: — 
Nor Coca only useful art at home, 
A famous merchandize thou art become. 
Prejudice against Cora. — The Peruvians have used 
the coca leaf from the most ancient times. It was 
considered so precious that it was included in the 
sacrifices that were offered to the Bud, and the High 
Priest chewed coca during the ceremony. IWtfwiiti 
or colonists were sent down from their native heights 
among the Andes, to cultivate the coca plants in 
the deep valleys to the eastward, aud the leaves 
were brought up for the use of the Incas of Peru. 
After the conqnest of Peru, by the Spaniards, some 
fanatics proposed to proscribe its use and to root 
up the plants, because the leaves had been nsed in 
the ancient superstitions, and because the cultivation 
took away the Indians from other work. The second 
Council of Lima, which sat in 1569, condemned the 
use of coca " as a useless aud pernicious leaf, and 
on accouut of the belief stated to be entertained 
by the Indians that the habit of chewing coca gave 
them powers of endurance, which," said these sapient 
Bishops, " is an illusion of the evil one." 
Anecdote respecting Coca. — The learned Jesuit Ac- 
osta, and the chronicler Garcilasso de la Vega, 
however, bear very different testimony. In speaking 
of the strength and endurance that coca gives to 
those who chew it, Garcilasso relates the following 
anecdote. " 1 renember," he says, "'an incident which 
I heard of a gentleman of rank and honour in my 
native land of Peru named Rodrigo Pautoja. Travelling 
from Cuzco 'o Lima he met a poor Spaniard who 
was going on foot with a little girl on his back. 
The man was known to Pantoja, and they thus 
conversed: 'Why do you go laden thus?' said the 
Knight. Ihe poor man said that he was unable to 
hire an Indian to carry the child, and for that 
reason he carried it himself. While he spoke, Pan- 
toja looked in his mouth, and saw that it was full 
of coca. As the Spaniards abominated all the 
Indians eat and drink, as though they savoured of 
idolatry, particularly the chewing of coca, wbich 
seemed to them a low and vile habit, he said — ' It 
may be as you say, but why do you chew coca, like 
an Indian, a thing so hateful to Spaniards?' The 
man answered—' In truth, my lord, I detest it as 
much as anyone, 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 burden, while the coca gives me 
sufficient strength to endure the fatigue.' Pantoja 
was astonished to hear this, and told the story 
wherever he went. From that time credit was given 
to the Indians for using coca from necessity, to 
enable them to endure fatigue, and not from gluttony." 
Bpanisli Hides as to Coca Cultivation. — Eventually, 
indeed, the Spanish Government interfered with 
coca cultivation from more worthy motives, and quite.- 
(turns) of Indian labourers for collecting coca leaves 
were forbidden in 1569 on the ground of the reputed 
uuhealthinesa of the valleys. The Spanish Viceroy 
