Note 74 — XVIII THE MOQUI[72] BOY AND THE EAGLE

This recalls a superstition of the Peruvian mountain Indians, ancient and modern. The latter I have often seen throwing upon a stone at the crest of a mountain pass the quid of coca-leaves they had been chewing. They believe such use of this sacred herb propitiates the spirits and keeps off the terrible soroche, or mountain-sickness; and that it also makes veins of metal easier to be worked—softening the stone, even as it did for Tái-oh.