102 VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES. 



its leaves, although their fibres are made applicable 

 to cordage. 



When the aloe is arrived at maturity, by tapping 

 the stem a spirituous liquor is obtained, which is a 

 favourite beverage of the lower classes, called by 

 them Octli, or Pulque. A good plant yields from 

 eight to fifteen pints of liquid per diem during two 

 and often three months. A full account of the 

 manner of drawing off this pulque * may be found 

 in Mr. Ward's work on Mexico. 



The agave or aloe is deemed by the Mexicans to 

 be one of the most valuable productions of nature. 

 The aborigines applied this plant to a great variety 

 of purposes ; from it they made their paper (pieces 

 of which of various thickness are still found covered 

 with curious hieroglyphic writing), their threads, 

 their needles (from its sharp points), and many 

 articles of clothing and cordage. The thick fleshy 

 fibrous leaves of most species of aloes contain fila- 

 ments of considerable strength, and which may be 

 drawn out and separated from the other parts of the 

 leaf by a very simple and speedy process. 



We learn from travellers that those growing in 

 Africa, and especially that of Guinea, are employed 

 in making very good ropes, which have the superior 

 advantage of not rotting in the water. 



The Agave vivipara and Cubensis are two species 

 of aloe produced in great abundance among the 



* Mr. Ward observes, that " although the plant is found wild 

 in every part of Mexico, no attempt to extract pulque from it is 

 made, except in the districts w.hich are within reach of the two 

 great towns of La Puebla and Mexico; where, among the lower 

 classes of the inhabitants, the consumption is enormous. Before 

 the revolution the revenue derived from a very small municipal 

 duty exacted on the pulque at the gates of these towns, averaged 

 600,000 dollars, and amounted, in 1793, to 817,739 dollars, or 

 about 170,000 sterling." Mexico in 1827; vol. i. p, 55. 



