114 VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES. 



the innumerable variety of spirituous, acid, or saccha- 

 rine beverages which the Indians display a peculiar 

 address in making, by infusing the grain of maize, in 

 which the sacc'narinc matter begins to develope 

 itself by germination. These beverages, generally 

 known by the name of ckicha, have some of them a 

 resemblance to beer, and others to cyder.' The 

 spirituous liquor called pulque de mahis or thtouili, 

 which is prepared from juice expressed from the 

 stalk of the maize, forms, in some parts of the 

 republic, a very important article of commerce. 



It has been said that Indian corn is free from all 

 liability to disease. In contradiction of this, M. 

 Roulin has asserted that a diseased state of this 

 grain, similar in its nature to that described as inci- 

 dent to rye under certain circumstances, is not unfre- 

 quently met with in Columbia The ill effects 

 attributed to the ergot of maize, although serious, 

 are however by no means of so fatal a character. 

 Among the effects, all animals, including the human 

 race, who partake of it, are subject to the shedding 

 of their teeth and hair, and quadrupeds to the addi- 

 tional loss of their hoofs ; fowls that have fed upon it 

 lay their eggs without shells. Its action, when ad- 

 ministered medicinally, is said to be even more 

 powerful than that of the ergot of rye. It must be 

 remarked that in the narrative of no other traveller 

 have we met with a similar statement, and that in 

 other countries, where maize is quite as familiarly 

 known as in Colombia, the disease has never been 

 observed. 



MILLET Species of Sorghum and Sitaria. These 

 are true grasses, and naturally allied to one of the 

 most numerous tribes. In light sandy soils, under 

 the scorching rays of the sun, and in situations 

 where sufficient moisture cannot be obtained for the 



