70 



SIX MONTHS IN MEXICO. 



sun the next morning, and found it growing 

 in the streets and round the town. It attains 

 a size which surprises those who have only 

 seen it in European hot-houses. We mea- 

 sured some of the leaves and found them ten 

 feet long, fifteen inches wide, and eight thick : 

 many of them were in blossom ; their flower- 

 stalk twenty feet high, and their arms ex- 

 panding, like rich candelabras, clustered with 

 yellow flowers. As this is an article of great 

 importance, and forms the principal beverage 

 of the people, I determined to obtain all the 

 information I could concerning it, and shall 

 give an account of it hereafter. Mr. Vandries 

 and myself left our inn on foot before sun-rise, 

 and were amply repaid by a most pleasant 

 morning's ramble. The rest of the party had 

 another proof that gaming is a prevalent vice 

 of the common people in Mexico : for when 

 they were about to leave the town, they were 

 informed they must delay their departure, 



