386 FRUIT-TREES. 
The central table-land of New Spain produces the 
ordinary fruits of Europe in the greatest abundance ; 
and the traveller is surprised to see the tables of the 
wealthy inhabitants loaded with the vegetable pro- 
ductions of both continents in the most perfect state. 
Before the invasion of the Spaniards, Mexico and 
the Andes presented several fruits having a great 
resemblance to those of Europe. The mountainous 
part of South America has a cherry, a nut, an apple, 
a mulberry, a strawberry, a rasp, and a gooseberry, 
which are peculiar to it. Oranges and citrons, which 
are now cultivated there, appear to have been in- 
troduced, although a small wild orange occurs in 
Cuba and on the coast of Terra Firma. The olive- 
tree answers perfectly in New Spain, but exists only 
in very small numbers. 
Most civilized nations procure their drinks from 
the plants which constitute their principal nourish- 
ment, and of which the roots or seeds contain saccha- 
rine and amylaceous matter. ‘There are few tribes, 
indeed, which cultivate these solely for the purpose 
of preparing beverages from them ; but in the New 
Continent we find a people, who not only extracted 
liquors from the maize, the manioc, and bananas, 
but who raise a shrub of the family of the an- 
anas for the express purpose of converting its juice 
into a spiritous liquor. This plant, the maguey 
(Agave Americana), is extensively reared as far 
as the Aztec language extends. The finest planta- 
tions of it seen by our traveller were in the valley 
of Tolucca and on the plains of Cholula. It yields 
the saccharine juice at the period of inflorescence 
only, the approach of which is anxiously observed. 
Near the latter place, and between Tolucca and 
