CHAPTER XCVI.

How the Indians carry herbs or roots in their mouths, and concerning the herb called coca, which they raise in many parts of this kingdom.

In all parts of the Indies through which I have travelled I have observed that the natives take great delight in having herbs or roots in their mouths. Thus, in the district of the city of Antioquia, some of the people go about with a small leaf in their mouths, and in the province of Arma they chew another leaf. In the districts of Quinbaya and Anzerma they cut small twigs from a young green tree, which they rub against their teeth without ceasing. In most of the villages subject to the cities of Cali and Popayan they go about with small _coca_ leaves in their mouths, to which they apply a mixture, which they carry in a calabash, made from a certain earth-like lime. Throughout Peru the Indians carry this _coca_ in their mouths, and from morning until they lie down to sleep, they never take it out. When I asked some of these Indians why they carried these leaves in their mouths (which they do not eat, but merely hold between their teeth), they replied that it prevents them from feeling hungry, and gives them great vigour and strength. I believe that it has some such effect, although, perhaps, it is a custom only suited for people like these Indians. They sow this _coca_ in the forests of the Andes, from Guamanga to the town of Plata. The trees are small, and they cultivate them with great care, that they may yield the leaf called _coca_. They put the leaves in the sun, and afterwards pack them in long narrow bags, containing a little more than an _arroba_ each. This _coca_ was so highly valued in Peru in the years 1548, 1549, 1550, and 1551, that there was not a root nor anything gathered from a tree, except spice, which was in such estimation. In those years they valued the _repartimientos_ of Cuzco, La Paz, and Plata at eighty thousand dollars, more or less, all arising from this _coca_. _Coca_ was taken to the mines of Potosi for sale, and the planting of the trees and picking of the leaves was carried on to such an extent, that _coca_ is not now worth so much, but it will never cease to be valuable. There are some persons in Spain who are rich from the produce of this _coca_, having traded with it, sold and re-sold it in the Indian markets.[479]