I 
198 TJIE AMAZON AND MADEIKA lUVEllS. 
inhabitants of the Pueblos on the IMamorii, but even the denizens of 
the more civilised trading towns, like Cochabamba, cannot do without 
the chicha, though there is no lack of either refreshing or intoxicating 
drinks, from the innumerable lemonades and refrescos to the most 
ardent spirits. Beer alone, when its browing shall have reached the 
foot of the Andes, may contest the supremacy of the chicha ; but it 
must be of a weak, agreeable tpiality, not the strong ale or porter of 
English export, uhich, overcoming all the ditliculties of transport, 
has ab'cady fouud its Avay there. 
CAPITAO CHTEF OF THE COllOADOS. 
As to the taste of the chicha ( for, a victim to my love of 
science, I tried the yellowish, tiubid, slightly-pearling liquid — though 
only after havmg carefully ascertained that there were no fragments 
of grinders, but only bruised grains, at the bottom of my calabash), 
it reminded me of weak cider with the slightest addition of starch; 
and possibly, when one succeeds in forgetting all about its prepara- 
tion, it may not be quite so objectionable as the warm water of the 
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