76 A NATURALIST IN MEXICO. 



gullies or barrancas, in which we found several species of 

 birds. The soil here was volcanic, consisting of ash, cin- 

 ders, and lava, which had flowed from Orizaba. From the 

 bluff, back of the town, we enjoyed many a fine view of the 

 surrounding country, showing us a flat plain, covered with 

 large and small volcanic cones. Every morniijg we were 

 greeted by a fine view of the white peak. 



Near San Francisco, a small village some two miles 

 from San Andres, the Maguey plant was cultivated to a 

 great extent. This is the plant from which the famous 

 Mexican drink, pulque, is made. It is gathered in the fol- 

 lowing manner: when the central shoot, which produces the 

 flower, appears, they cut out the whole heart, leaving noth- 

 ing but the thick walls, which makes a natural basin, two 

 feet in depth and one and one-half in diameter. Into this 

 opening the sap flows, and is removed twice or three times 

 daily. It is collected in a large gourd, called an acojafe, 

 having a horn at one end and a square hole at the other, 

 through which the sap is drawn by suction. This sap, be- 

 fore fermentation, is called aguamil or honey water. It is 

 carried into the towns in sheep-skin barrels, with the hair 

 inside. The Mexicans derive an immense revenue from this 

 plant, many plantations yielding ten or twelve thousand 

 dollars annually. 



This being Holy Week, we were. not able to make ar- 

 rangements for the ascent of Orizaba until the close of the 

 festivities. On Holy Thursday, in the evening, we walked 

 about the town, having a good opportunity to observe the 

 customs of the people on festival days. The streets were 

 crowded with people walking up and down. On the corners 

 of the streets, and especially in the plaza, were man with 

 tables before them, upon which were placed for sale ice- 

 cream, sweet-cakes, and various kinds of confectionary. In 

 some places small trinkets and other articles of merchandise 



