ians from the earliest
times. Its peculiar qualities enable those who take it to undergo great
and continuous exertion, without any other food. It is a plant somewhat
like the vine, and grows to about seven or eight feet in height. The
leaves have a bitter flavour, and are aromatic. Among other qualities,
they act as a sudorific, preserve the teeth, and prevent sleep. On
first awaking in the morning, an Indian will put a quid of his favourite
leaf into his mouth, and he performs the same operation three or four
times in the day. To give it a relish he mixes a little pulverised
unslacked lime, which he carries in a gourd for that purpose. He takes
the lime out the gourd with a thin slip of damped wood, and conveys what
adheres to it to his mouth. The operation of chewing is called
_chakchar_. Many even of the whites indulge in it in secret, though it
would be considered derogatory to chew in public, because the despised
Indian does so.

The Peruvians, in their love and admiration for this plant, used to pay
it a religious respect, and considered it the most grateful offering to
the spirits they might wish to propitiate. It has certainly a most
wonderful effect in sustaining nature; and I have known people
undergoing great fatigue, exist four or five days, without tasting any
other food, or suffering the slightest inconvenience. The ignorant
conquerors, from observing the reverence paid by the Indians to cacao,
fancied that it must possess some demoniacal properties, and not only
refused to use it themselves, but endeavoured to prevent it being used
by the natives; and a royal decree was actually issued, declaring that
the idea entertained by the Indians that cacao gave them strength, is an
"illusion of the devil." The mine-owners, however, perceived its
importance in enabling the slaves to undergo fatigue; and its use,
therefore, rather increased than diminished. It, however, excites the
brain, somewhat as does opium, and thus its intemperate use for any
length of time would probably wear out mental vigour and activity.
Having procured a supply of this valuable leaf for the Indian, he filled
his pouch with it, while the maize he fastened up in a corner of his
poncho.

"I am ready to depart," he said, "though my heart yet lingers with you;
and believe, O children of a Northern land, that, though fallen and
despised his race, Manco Tupac Amaru is truly grateful for your generous
hospitality, and more for pre