A custom very general, not only among the Huitotos but also among many of the "whites," is the use of the coca. The leaves are picked from the tree and, after being well toasted, are pulverised and mixed with the ashes of the burnt leaves of another plant--I could not ascertain its name--in order to take away the bitter taste observed when the coca is used alone. The drug is then ready for use, and, inserted into the mouth, is rolled up under the cheek, where they sometimes keep it for half a day at a time. The juice is swallowed. It is well known that coca is a powerful stimulant, and the Huitotos when out in the forest collecting rubber find it very useful, especially as they often have to carry the rubber they gather several leagues on their backs with practically no food at all to sustain them. They claim that it takes the place of food on these marches, and it really does seem to enable them to perform wonderful feats of endurance. While at La Unión, Duarte gave me several doses of the coca, which at first affected me with a slight nausea; I soon became accustomed to it, however, and found it very useful on different occasions. Sometimes the Huitotos hold one of their rare dances, which is an occasion of much festivity. It should be observed, however, that those poor wretches in the service of the "civilising company" are now so enslaved and oppressed that they have no time nor spirit to indulge in these amusements, which formerly, when they were free and independent, were, so Serrano informed us, carried out as follows:-- Preparatory to beginning the dances the Huitotos used to paint themselves all over in various colours, some of the designs representing branches of trees, animals, and geometrical figures, while both men and women adorned themselves with their beautiful feather ornaments of many different colours and various necklaces of monkey and _danta_ teeth. Around their bodies and legs they attached long strings of rattling shells, called _cascabeles_. Then they began dancing with cadencious uniformity, marking time with their right feet, and at the same time singing in chorus their ancient songs, the peculiar and ear-splitting intonation of which was accompanied by blows upon the _manguaré_, the beating of drums, and the shrill whistle of their flutes. They generally imbibed during these dances a goodly quantity of _cahuana_, and the _chupe del tabaco_ was always an important feature. The few who possessed clothes generally wore them on these occasions, painting those parts of the body not covered by them. These dances used to go on from one house to another for several days in succession, and the _manguaré_ was hardly ever silent during this time.