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fore the conquest of Mexico, without spreading to all or most 
agricultural and corn-raising Indians, so that, in the absence of 
more positive information, we may assume that it was obtained 
from the Mexicans, or Mexican Indians, who towards the end of 
the last or the beginning of this century traded among the tribes 
north of the Gila river, or were carried into captivity to their 
rancherias. This assumption is strengthened by the fact that the 
Apaches are of northern origin, and that none of their many 
tribes ever lived in Mexico. From the Mexicans, likewise, and at 
about the same time, in my opinion, came the knowledge of the 
other alcoholic beverages prepared by our southwestern tribes. 
It is worth noting that at the only part of the American con- 
tinent trodden by the foot of Christopher Columbus, namely the 
coast of Venezuela, the great discoverer observed and recorded 
the two alcoholic drinks used by the natives ; they were the same as 
in Mexico, one prepared from corn, the other from the Maguey. 
The most striking botanical feature of southwest Arizona and 
northern Sonora, as well as one of the wonders of the vegetable 
world, is the far-famed Giant Cactus (Cereus giganteus Engelm.), the 
Suhuara or Pitahaya of the Mexicans, a fluted column 30 to 50 feet 
_ high, crowned, in season, with handsome pink flowers. The fruit 
is two to three inches long, full of a rich crimson pulp of fine fla- 
vor and a great dainty to the Indians and Mexicans of the region. 
From it they prepare a clear light-brown syrup which is used as a 
substitute for sugar, and a fermented liquor having the taste and 
smell of sour beer, although somewhat stronger. The still larger 
and sweeter fruit of Cereus Thurberi Engelm. or Pitahaya dulce of 
Sonora and Lower California, is used for the same purposes. Accord- 
ing to Colonel Cremony, already quoted, “It is upon this liquor 
that the Pimos, Maricopas and Yumas get drunk once a year, the 
revelry continuing for a week or two at atime; but it is also a custom 
with them to take regular turns so that only one-third of the party 
is supposed to indulge at a time, the remainder being required to 
take care of their stimulated comrades and protect them from in- — 
juring each other or being injured by other tribes.” 
The fruit of several species of Opuntia, especially O. Tuna 
Mill. and O. Ficus-Jndica Haw., has also been used by Mexican — 
Indians to make an intoxicating drink, called colonche, with a — 
