The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-05-25
SUBSTITUTE Fo Z TOBACCO.
Cocoa Leaves Used in south America
Countries in plaza of tho Waad

Cocoa Leaves Used in south American
countries in Place of the Weed.
From the -Ne,C Orleans Times Democrat
In the providential economy of nature
there are always to be found certain prod
ucts which the requirements of various
sppetites demand, and which, like tea,
coffee, yerba mate, etc.. become of general
use and are TO be found in all the great
marts of the world. OF cocoa very little
is known in Europe and the United States
except that it possesses certain medicinal
qualities. ct to the aborigineS of Peru
and Bolivia the cocoa is as indispensable as
is tobacco in the armies and navies Of the
world. By those addicted to its use it is
claimed that cocoa is inc lmpara bly, superior
to tobacco, both as to its flavor aud its
physiological effects, and that while
stimulating it is not injurious. 1t increases
the warmth Of the body and enables
those exposed to cold or damp places to
maintain comfortable temperature; it Is
soothing to tue nerves, and at the same
time Civ es wonderful impetus to locomo-
ton and an incredible power OF endurance
The Indian mail carriers and porters toll
ing over the Andes with their burdens on
their backs often travel extraordinary dis
tauces sustained by a few cocoa leaves
small quantity Of alkaline earth wrapped IN
the leaves causes the juice to enter the
circulation and so operates on the nervous
centers OF the stomach as to somewhat re-
tard digestion without any deleterious eff
fects, and is, therefore, "a great factor in
the economy of food. In those not accus-
toned to the use Of the leaf slight tendency
to insomnia is produced, but this soon gives
place to sensation Of restfulness, acknowi-
edged bv all who chew it to be most agree
able. For armies. miners, seamen, travel
ers, explorers and for all persons whose &C.
oupat!ons take them great distances from
food centers, the mastication of cocoa will
be found of lnestima bic value, according to
Public Opinion, and SO far superior to
tobacco that when once introduced in the
markets OF Europe and the United States 1t
is bound to supersede, in a measure at least,
that weed.
1t is proposed to exhibit the COCOA leaf at
the worlds fair, and the Peruvian govern
ment is taking some measures to introduce
it under the best auspices. The difficulty to
be overcome in this respect is a proper pack
age in which to transport the Leaf and for
this reason no great effort has been made to
introduce it in the European markets.. The
excessive heat to which the leaf il subjected
on the voyage sets up a sort of fermentation
which, usually beginning in the center of
the package, often affects the whole bale
before it reaches its destination. This fer
mentation causes the leaf to turn yellow or
brown and gives to it al acid instead Of the
agreeable aud somewhat spicy flavor which
is natural to the plant. Every effort is to
be made to secure a proper package, and
when once the cocoa has been introduced to
tobacco chewers it will become known for
something more than for the cocaine which
it furnishes and which is not generally
used on its native soil.