::::"3e COAST AND TABLELAND Is:::;;::: 



from coast to coast. By far the larger part of this 

 area which is seen from the train may be described 

 as one enormous pulque patch, pulque being the 

 national intoxicating drink. This is obtained from the 

 mafjue'ji plant, great century-plant-like growths which 

 are about the only green things that will grow in 



Waite, photographer 



VIEW FROM ESPERANZA 



this saltpetre-permeated earth. The great spike-leaved 

 plants are placed in rows about ten feet apart in each 

 direction, and for mile after mile, league upon league, 

 these rows reach to the horizon. As the train passes, 

 the radiating oblique lines, focusing at one's eye, 

 seem to revolve in a continuous, maddening, reeling 

 whirl. 



„«4. 29 ■^.- 



