Ethnological and botanical evidence in recent years demonstrates clearly that Piptadenia peregrina by no means is the main constituent of all snuffs used by South American Indians. In view of this it was felt necessary to make a general investigation of whatever material of this kind that could be collected. The first results of these studies are reported here. Modern techniques of analysis such as gas chromatography and the combination of gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (Ryhage 1964) offer possibilities for an accurate analysis even of very small amounts of material, such as can usually be obtained from museum specimens. The results of the authors' analysis of crude drugs such as parica, epena, etc. and corresponding botanical specimens are contained in Fig. 1-14. In table 1-2 our own results as well as those of previous investigators have been included. In every case the peaks in the gas chromatograms have been corroborated by mass spectra obtained with the combination instrument. This method assures complete identity with the reference compounds, and gives direct evidence for identity in contrast to indirect methods such as relative retention times. In all six snuffs were examined (Table 1). In the crude drugs we have identified the various tryptamines. In three of them 5-MeO-DMT was the main component. DMT was identified in five but was nowhere found to be the main component. 5-0H-DMT was found in substantial amounts in two snuffs. One drug proved to have as much Bufotenine as DMT. This snuff has very little 5-MeO-DMT but in addition to simple indoles also contains harmine. Only one drug has 5-0H- DMT as its main constituent but contained in addition DMT and 5-MeO-DMT. Two compounds hitherto unidentified in South American snuffs were found to be present namely MMT and 5-MeOMMT. Only one snuff contained exclusively, beta-carbolines.