peyote, a psychedelic plant
A peyotl (peyote, today) "button" is small round, spineless cactus (Lophophora williamsii) that will fit easily in the palm of one's hand. It is eaten for the psychedelic effect. The DEA describes its origin as a hallucinogenic as dating from pre-Columbian times in northern Mexico and what is now the U.S. Southwest. Its use dates back at least 5,000 years, and it has associations with religious beliefs and practices.
The Wixárika (also known as the Huicholes), who consider peyote a sacrament, perform a Mitote Peyote dance in ceremonies.
"Peiotl: inin peiotl iztac: auh çan yio vmpa in mochioa in tlacochcalcopa, in teutlalpā in mjtoa mjctlanpa. In aqujn qujqua in, in anoç quj: itech qujça inuhqujn nanacatl: no mjec tlamantli qujtta in temamauhti, anoço tevetzqujti aço cemjlhujtl, anoço omjlhujtl in jtech qujça, tel çcan no concaoa: iece ca qujtlacoa in jiollo, tetlapololtia, teivintia, tetech qujça: njnopeiovia, njciovia." = "Peyote: This peyote is white and grows only there in the north region called Mictlan. On him who eats it or drinks it, it takes effect like mushrooms. Also, he sees many things which frighten one, or make one laugh. It affects him perhaps one day, perhaps two days, but likewise it abates. However, it harms one, troubles one, makes one besotted, takes effect on one. I take peyote; I am troubled."
Cuix ticneltoca in temictli in Peyotl, Ololiuhqui, Tletl, Tecolotl, Chiquatli. coatl nozo itla oc centlamantli quimoteotiaya in mocolhuan huehuetque. = Do you believe in dreams, peyote, ololiuhqui, fire, owls, barn owls, snakes or some other thing your grandfathers the ancients used to worship?
iehoantin intlaiximach in mjtoa peiotl: injque, y, in qujqua in peiotl, vctli ipan in qujpoa, in anoço nanacatl, mocentlalia cana ixtlaoacan, monechicoa: vncan mjtotia, cujca ceioal, cemjlhujtl = The so-called peyote was their discovery. These, when they ate peyote, esteemed it above wine of mushrooms. They assembled together somewhere on the desert; they came together; there they danced, they sang all night, all day. (central Mexico, sixteenth century)
"They believe the ololiuhqui or peyote is revealing to them that which they want to know. As soon as the intoxication or deprivation of judgment passes from this person, he tells two thousand hoaxes." (Atenango, between Mexico City and Acapulco, 1629)
peyote . . . "is another small root and for which they have the same faith as for that other seed." (Atenango, between Mexico City and Acapulco, 1629)
iehoantin intlaiximach in mitoa peiotl: inique, y, in quiqua in peiotl, vctli ipan in quipoa, in anoço nanacatl = They are the ones who [first] know of what is called peyote. These people eat peyote; they consider it in the same light as pulque or mushrooms. (Tlatelolco, 1540–80)
"yeçe ca quenmanian, onicneltocac in temictli, in xiuhtzintli in peyotl in ololiuhqui? Yhuan in oc cequi tlamantli." = "but at times I have believed in dreams, herbs, peyote and ololiuhqui, and other things." (central Mexico, 1634)
"Francisco del Castillo Maldonado regidor de esta villa [Atlixco] era hechicero y se trataua así entre los indios de Coyula y [aq]uella cercanía por que tomaua la bebida que llaman el peyote para sauer cosas ocultas y asimismo tomaua semilla de ololuyqui." (1622)
Cuix ticneltoca in temictli in Peyotl, Ololiuhqui, Tletl, Tecolotl, Chiquatli. coatl nozo itla oc centlamantli quimoteotiaya in mocolhuan huehuetque. = As creydo en sueños, en el Peyote, Ololiuque, en el fuego, en los Buhos, Lechusas, ò Culebras, &c. O en otros abusos que tuvieron tus antepasados.
"Ca quemaca onicnozentlaçotili mocha yca in noy, yeolo, yeçe ca quenmanian, onicneltocac in temictli, in xiuhtzintli in peyotl in ololiuhqui? Yhuan in oc cequi tlamantli." "Si è amado con todo mi coraçon, pero algunas vezes è creido en sueños, en yerbas, en el ololiuhqui, y peyote, y otras cosas."