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THE K I NG ' S B U S I N E S S comparatively recent origin. Among the Comanches, with whom the writer lives, as nearly as we can find out, its use does not go back much more than one hundred years. A brief description of the effect.of this cactus fruit, when eaten, will help the reader to understand, in part at least, how its use has spread from Mexico to the Canadian line, and now includes some thirty Indian tribes of the United States. One of its first ef fects noted is its ability to produce mar velous colors in yision. The user of peyote finds himself in a land of won drous beauty, with colors so many and: so gorgeous that it is difficult for tongue to describe it. In this condition of mind he sees also marvelous visions, some times good and sometimes evil. He loses all sense of the accuracy of time and sound. A little sound becomes to him great; a few minutes appear to be hours. The peyote contains four alkaloids—- poisons. Chemists are not sure but that a fifth alkaloid is there also. Of course, each “bean” contains the poisons in small amount, not enough to do any noticeable harm; but the little multi plied many times becomes a serious menace to those who are its victims. Peyote belongs in the same class with Cannabis Indica, or Indian Hemp. Its effects upon the mind and body are such as to leave no doubt of its dangerous nature. It attacks the heart, the throat, and the stomach. Many of its users die from its use. Yet, it is impossible to prove this statement as it would need to be proved in a court of law. For, as a rule, no physician is called until the sick person is near his end. And, even then, the physician cannot prove that death is due to peyote; for he has not seen his patient use the drug. How ever, those who have lived with peyote eating Indians for many years have no doubt at all that death often follows
Tke Pernicious “Peyote” T h e Devil’s Newest Religion
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FEW months ago the State of Oklahoma granted to cer tain representatives of a number of Indian tribes, liv ing within said . state, a charter, authorizing the or ganization of a . Native American Church, which
may use peyote as a sacrament. One who is not familiar with peyote may well ask what it is, whence it came, and whether it accomplishes good or evil. Before the white man came to Amer ica, there grew on the deserts of Mex ico, where it still grows, a plant whose botanical name now is Anhalonium Lewinii. To the casual observer it pre sents, in its growth, no suggestion of narm, but only of beauty through its fine, white blossom. The root of the plant, growing under the ground, is carrot shaped. Above the ground forms the fruit called peyote. In size this “button” or “bean” as the Indians call it, is about that of half of a driedi apricot. In its center grows a tuft of dirty, white cotton, which is said to have fine needle-like points. This fruit of the cactus-—for Anhalonium is a cactus—is cut off close to the top of the ground. The part with which we are concerned is the said cactus fruit. As far back as Mexican history goes it is known that the people of that land used as a drug, and likely also in more or less of a religious way, the peyote. Early Catholic plriests were familiar with the drug and its use, and gave it the name “devil’s root.” Its use among the Indians -of the United States is of
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