“In this discourse with him, _Pantoia_ observed that his mouth was full of the _Cuca_; and it being, at that time, that the _Spaniards_ abhorred all things which the _Indians_ did eat or drink, because they had been abused to Idolatry, and particularly they hated the _Cuca_, as a base and stinking Weed, which gave cause to _Pantoia_ to ask him farther, why he, being a _Spaniards_, did use those things which the _Spaniards_ hated; for his necessities could never be so great as to compell him to Meats or Customs unlawfull. To which the Souldier replied, that though he abhorred it as much as the _Spaniards_, yet necessity forced him to imitate the _Indians_ therein; for that without it he could never be able to travell and carry his Burthen, for that holding it in his mouth, he found such refreshment and strength, that he was able to carry his Load, and perform his Journey with chearfulness. _Pantoia_ wondring at this Report, related to many others, who, afterwards, making the same experiment thereof, found that the _Indians_ made use of it rather for their refreshment and necessity, than for any pleasure in the taste, which in itself is not very pleasant or agreeable.” A plant having such manifold and beneficent properties must needs have a supernatural origin, and the Indians had a belief that the goddess Varischa first introduced the Cuca plant into Peru, and taught the inhabitants the use thereof. Abraham Cowley sang thereof in his Latin poems, “Sex libri plantarum,” and use is made here of the translation by Nahum Tate, of the fifth book, published in 1700. The Indian Bacchus challenge the other deities to judge between the fruits of the two worlds.