£0 SIX MONTHS IN MEXICO. 



of the capital both fresh and in a dried 

 state. 



The great American aloe (Agava Ameri- 

 cana), called here the maguey, is of the 

 greatest consequence to the Mexicans, and 

 very largely cultivated from Perote to To- 

 lucca, and I believe much further. From it 

 is made the refreshing beverage called pulque. 

 It is in universal request among the inhabit- 

 ants of the capital, Puebla, Tolluca, &c, and 

 such is the consumption of it, that the three 

 cities just mentioned are said by Baron Hum- 

 boldt to have paid duties upon it to the amount 

 of 817,739 dollars in the year 1793. Plan- 

 tations of the agava are very extensive be- 

 tween Chollula and San Martin, the great road 

 running for miles through them. The plants 

 are set about five or six feet asunder, and in 

 favourable situations come into bloom in about 

 ten years, at which period the valuable 

 liquor they produce is to be procured. As 



