Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-07-27
new invention, whose beneficial effects re

new invention, whose beneficial effects re-
main to be proved.
The increase of ones powers of endurance
by the use of coca leaves, especially in the
higher attitudes, is something marvellous
Aside from relieving sirroche, the distress
ing difficulty of breathing incident to exer,
else in the thin air of the Andes, it is said
to completely abolish all sense OF hunger or
fatigue. 1t is an undoubted fact that an
Indian, when well supplied with coca, will
travel from 30 to 70 miles day. carrying on
his back the load of llama, almost without
food for days together. Indeed he considers
food as of secondary importance, or rather
as third on his list Of necessities, diluted al
cohol coming next to coca.
HOW THE LABoRERs USE IT.
The laborers of this country are univers-
ally Indians, and all employers must fur
nish certain amount of coca to each man,
or he will not work at all. In the mines, the
least allowance per diem is five ounces for
every man, and eight ounces is sometimes
given. Thus supplied, an Indian will work
willingly and we'll from o'clock in the
morning until P. NJ. taking nothing TO
eat in the meantime. He generally has food
OF some sort before beginning his labors, and
after in the evening he eats whatever he
can get.
His first cud is accumulated in about two
bours, from 4 to o'clock, taking it leaf by
leaf, stripping the central stem between his
teeth, and from time to time adding few
grains of potash. This alkali causes burn
ing sensation on the lips, but is soon incor-
porated with the cud, serving to neutralize
the acidity of the leaves and at the same
time aiding digestion by provoking an
increased flow of saliva, At 10
- ha ri
him half an hour of rest. He then
throws away the mornings chew, rinses his
mouth with alcohol, and lndustriously be-
gins the accumulation of second cud.
Again, at 80 o'clock, another rest is given,
which he employs in making third chew.
AT $3.50 the same performance is repeated.
Strange to say, the most inordinate use of
coca is not followed by delirum tremens,
nervousness or any other effect that may be
noticeable on an Indian, even after he has
lived on it fer two or three days, taking lit
tie or no food and enduring excessive
fatigue. Whenever opportunity offers he
will eat the back numbers of omitted meals
in one gigantic heap, thus showing that no
serious disturbance of the stomach has
arisen from his coca intoxication.
THEY REACH A RIPE OLD AGE.
Neither does its habitual use seem to af-
feet longevity, unless 1t may be to prolong
it. One never meets a toothless or bald
headed Indian, though one hundred. years
is here considered their average span OF life.
There is a cheerful Methuselah in Chuqui-
bambilla, who claims to have just turned
his one hundred and forty-second year, and
the parish priest supports his statement by
the church record of births. This aged
Indian does not look any older than his
great-grandchildren and declares that for
more than ninety years he has not tasted
water or any liquid whatsoever but chicba,
the native intoxicant made from fermented
corn; that he has eaten coca three tines a
day ever since he was ten years old, and
has seldom had animal food except on Sun
days, sometimes having no meat at all for
months together, but subssting entirely on
corn, barley and quinud. Instances are not
rare of Indians who attain 130 or even more
years of age, yet retain full possession of
their bodily and mental powers.
No doubt the aperient qualities of coca
tend to prevent disease, and are most useful
in counteracting the distractions caused by
diet of farinaceous food alone. One can
not find an Indian anywhere in Bolivia or
Peru who has not his huallqui, or pouch. of
coca. The leaves are retailed in every little
tienda in quantities to suit the purse of the
purchaser, and on "beggars' day" (Satur-
day), handful of coca is more gratefully
received by the poorest mendicant than if
every leaf were silver coin.
FANNIE B. WARD.