Note 66 — THE ETHNOLOGY OF PEYOTISM

Bennett and Zingg, The Tarahumara, 138, 295; Lumholtz, Unknown Mexico, 1:357-58 (wherein all but the last named are cacti), 2:124-25 (Tepecano). The accepted etymology of teo-nanacatl, “divine mushroom,” suggests the same attitude; in the Antilles “among the most prominent of the plants worshipped ... [are] mushrooms, pines, opuntias, zapos, and zeybas.” (Rafinesque, cited in Bourke, Scatological Rites, 91; but Rafinesque is an undependable authority). The Cherokee called casine yapon (the “black drink”) “the beloved tree” (Bartram, Travels, 357). It is also said that in Virginia toadstools were an object of worship because of their mysterious growth (Bourke, ibid.). In Peru coca was looked on with veneration and suppliants must approach priests only with some in their mouths. Compare the use and attitudes toward tobacco, mescal beans, datura, guarana paste, cohoba, chocolate (Theobroma cacao), aya-huasca, yahé, etc.