136 THE PIvANT WORLD 



among the lower classes, who, during the season, subsist almost entirely 

 upon this fruit. 



The heclio in Sonora {^Cereus peden-aborigimaii) produces a curious 

 spiny fruit like a giant chestnut-bur. This is utilized by the Indians in 

 the manufacture of a comb or brush for the hair. 



In many arid regions the cactus furnishes a most important portion 

 of the fuel supply, and often enters into the construction of fences, corrals, 

 and even of houses. In Tehuacan the ligneous pith is used for poles in 

 the vineyards. Many varieties are planted regularly for living fences. 



In Mexico the cactus is by far the most valuable among the fruit- 

 producing plants, and tons of tunas, pitallas and numberless other varieties 

 annually find their way to the market places. It is a curious sight in 

 some of these markets to see scores of men, women, and children, each 

 with a plate, or a basket, or a burro pack train loaded with some variety 

 of cactus fruit. In San IvUis Potosi probably forty or fifty varieties of 

 these fruits may be counted. The sweet globose fruits of Cereiis geo- 

 metrizans are dried in large quantities and later eaten like raisins or 

 currants, which they slightly resemble. Other varieties are made into 

 pleasant summer drinks, or fermented and made into wine or other in- 

 toxicating beverage. The national drink of the Mexican Republic — 

 pulque — is made from the maguey or mescal plant (species of Agave), 

 commonly but erroneously called a cactus. The history of the industries 

 connected with this group of plants alone has formed the subject of many 

 volumes. 



The Indians are credited with using the spines of some cacti for fish- 

 hooks, of others for needles, and in the craze for novelties they are being 

 gathered in quantities for toothpicks by enterprising curio dealers. The 

 manufacture of furniture, napkin rings, canes, and countless other curious 

 and useful objects has assumed considerable proportions. 



Carloads of one variety are gathered in Mexico and shipped to the 

 cities and manufactured into dulces or confectionery. In some localities 

 a single plant may be found to yield $20 worth of dulces. 



The cochineal insect was formerly an important product from the 

 cactus, and plantations were maintained for the production of this dye. 



Sometimes a giant cactus in the desert will save the life of a traveler 

 by supplying him with water in his hour of need. A large plant may 

 yield a wash-tub full of sweet, if somewhat insipid, water, and has won 

 the gratitude of the parched prospector. 



In Utah one variety occurs that the Indians gather and peel as we 

 would cucumbers before eating. The pioneer will often find a few planted 

 around a patch of ground to be the best kind of a fence for protection 

 against chickens or wild animals. 



Doubtless many other and diverse uses for some of these plants could 



