69 



an alcoholic liquor from it called "Vina Mescal," by the 

 natives. The leaves (pencais) are trimmed off from the 

 lower pa»t and throv^n away, being most undoubtedly the 

 most valuable part of the plant. The head, or, as it is 

 called, the pina, is then roasted, pressed, and the juice 

 thus obtained is allowed to ferment ; it is then distilled, 

 and mescal is the result. A small portion of the leaves are 

 utilized by the mesealeros in thatching their houses, but 

 nine-tenths of thein are left in the woods to rot. This 

 plant also yields a sap or juice while standing, from which 

 is made the great Mexican drink known as pulque.. To 

 obtain this, the centre of the plant is cut away, and a 

 saucer-shaped cavity is made in the solid part that remains 

 below, into which there filters a whitish sap of rather a 

 disagreeable taste to one who is unaccustomed to.its use. 

 This sap is called agua miel, (honey water), and is highly- 

 medicinal in its crude state. When allowed to ferment it 

 becomes pulque. It is also subjected to another process, 

 that of slow evaporation over fire, until it becomes of a 

 syrupy consistence. This syrup is very sweet, and is an 

 excellent substitute for'molasses. 



A good-sized Maguey is very productive. The agua 

 miel is drawn off from the cavity above mentioned twice a 

 day, and it continues to yield for several months. From 

 the fibre ropes, bagging, matting, and a variety of useful 

 articles are made ; the pina, after being roasted, is eaten 

 with relish by the workmen at the distilleries, and is very 

 nutricious, sweet, and has not an unpleasant flavor. The 

 flower stalk is used for rafters for the houses, being from 

 twenty to twenty-flve feet in length, and of great strength 

 and durability. ' 



Thus it will be seen that the Maguey is a useful plant, 

 as it gives food and drink of different kinds, and houses to 

 live in, besides other useful- articles. 



The time may come when these plants will be more pro- 

 tected than they are at present, and, perhaps, cultivated 

 for the fibre which they yield, 



I have heard that most of the-Ystle shipped to the United 

 States is converted into an imitation of horse hay, and mat- 

 tresses, sofas, chairs, etc., stuffed with it, and sold as the 

 genuine article. 



