NATIVES GATHERING AGAVE JUICE 

 FOR PULQUE 



By H. E. Zimmerman. 



[JULQUE is the favorite beverage of the Mexicans and of 

 ■* the inhabitants of Central America and parts of South 

 America. It is made from the juice of the different species of 

 the agave or century plant, which is collected by cutting out 

 the flowering stem from the midst of the leaves in the begin- 

 ning of its growth, and scooping a hole for the juice. From 

 this cavity large quantities of juice are removed daily for 

 months. The juice is an agreeable drink when fresh, but is 

 more generally used after fermentation, when it has a very 

 pleasant taste, but a putrid smell, disgusting to those unac- 



