The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1914-05-26

sometimes an Indis1 will drink a
whole bottle right down ana MS NM
is generally gagged ny the diiouht h
is able to purchase.
In addition TO alcohol. h Indian
men, women and chlldren orihh
chicha. a beer made OF corn. 1hlS y
10 be found everywhere IN n noun
tains of Peru from one enc OF 1t ~
the other. The ordinary way OF max
ing chicha is to take the grains OF
rine corn and throw them into the
tanks in the earth. The grain IS tnen
covered with straw and sprlnkleu
with water. 1t is kept wet untli 1t
swells and sprouts, after when Il Is
taken out and boiled for a season.
When set aside SO the liquor beglnS 70
ferment, and within d short Tune II
is beer.
In some villages ! am told the old
custom of making chicha still pre-
walls. In tina case the Fermentation
is started first in the mouth. Inc
girls come together and have cheW-
ing matches. They shelf off -he rips
grains, and grind them to powder be
tween their teeth, working their Jaws
until the saliva flow freely. III the
midst of the party is a great Wooden
trough. into which from time to time
each girl splits out her mixture or
saliva-soaked meal. 1.-THE spittle
brings about fermentation, and after
a short time the mush, with some
water added, has turned to a beer
that will make the drunk come. /
am told this is the best form OF
chicha yet known and that its manu-
featuring dates back to the days of
the meas.
The use of the coca leaf, which con-
tains the active principal Of cocaine,
is universal. 1t is cheWed every day
| and there are certain fixed times dur
ing the laboring hours when all stop
for recess, during which they chew
coca. The farmer gives his Indians
a handful of coo cav every morn
ing, and this mine owner has to sup
ply a fxed amount of coca in addition
to the ordinary wages. The coca takes
way hunger n it keeps out the cold
1t enables n to breathe better in
the high attitudes of the Andes and
it is claimed that its use enables the
Indians to work longer mo endure
more fatigue. 1t also deadens the
brain, destroys the will power and
takes away all forms of intellectual
activity.
The Indian not only cheWs the coca
but he makes a tea Of it. 1t is aid tC
be good for the stomach and the
chewing of it keeps the teeth white
and I am told it preserves them. Near
ly all Of the Indians / see have white
teeth, and it said they seldom have
toothache, this fact being attributed
to coca.
coca leaves are sold in all Of tn
stores here in Cuzco. They come from
a shrub which is cultivated and which
grows from four to six feet in height
The leaves are much like a rose lea,
or like our W~hitegreen. The leaves ar,
! nInka6 or0on drin9 on6 MI ,r !,
packages of twenty-five pounds each
Such a package sells for $3.50.
bought 10 cents worth today and tool
it home in order to try it. The seno
2 rita who managed the store brough
out a pair Of old brass scales, balanc
: ed on the end Of a beam, and weigh
; ed me out a full pound. I chewe,
some, but it had no p~erceptible effect
probably because [ had not the ashe
L or lime to go with it. I then mad
t some into a tea. 1t tasted like a con
e c%oction Of hay, and made me fee
t good.
e AS l see how the Indians live an
e work on these cold highlands of tn
Andes, [ do not wonder that they ar
a driven to coca and alcohol to keep O,
r the blues. Let me describe some G
their houses scattered oyer the pam
l. pas. They are huts made Of mud, S
rude and squalid that they Woul
IS hardly be fit for a hog or as a stabl
d for a good American COW. The typ.
" cal dwelling is about eight or ten fee
e IN width and perhaps ten or fiftee
feet long. 1t is SO low hat as yo
stand outside it your head reache
above where the matched roof b.
le gins. This building has walls mad
OF sod or mul and it's roof is of STRAY
,e tied to poles or canes. 1t has no wiz
doWs and the only door is a hole
n the wall, SO low that you have to stoc
a down to go in. In some of the hu
there is a framework at the bac-
10 upon which the family sleep at nigh
if out IN the most of them both grow,
to bps and children lie down on Il
e. sIouhd ana huddle together to kee
- themselves warm. There is no e,
he nltufe to be seen except a few Uan
rs SKINS, winch are spread on the foo
'to The neOnle Sleen in tha