HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



257 



that one fingle plant generally yields, in the fpace of fix 

 months, fix hundred, and in the whole time of its fruit- 

 fulnefs more than two thoufand pounds of juice {n). 



They gather the juice from the cavity with a long nar- 

 row gourd, which ferves inftead of a more artificial con- 

 trivance, and pour it into a veffel until it ferments, which 

 it ufually does in lefs than twenty-four hours. To af- 

 fift the fermentation, and make the beverage flronger, 

 they infufe a certain herb which they name Ocpatli, or 

 remedy of wine. The colour of this wine is white, the 

 tafte a little rough, and its flrength fufficient to intoxi- 

 cate, though not fo much as that of the grape. In 

 other refpe&s it is a wholefome liquor, and valuable on 

 many accounts as it is an excellent diuretic, and a pow- 

 erful remedy againft the diarrhcea. The confumption 

 made of this liquor is furprifing as it is ufeful, for the 

 Spaniards become rich by it. The revenue produced 

 by that alone which is con fumed in the capital amounts 

 annually to three hundred thoufand crowns; one Mexi- 

 can rial only being paid for every twenty-five Caililian 

 pounds. The quantity of pulque, which was confumed 

 in the capital in 1774, was two millions two hundred 

 and fourteen thoufand, two hundred ninety-four and 

 half arrobas, or upwards of fixty-three millions eight 

 hundred thoufand Roman pounds, exclufive of that 

 which was fmuggled in there, and that which the pri- 

 vileged Indians fell in the great market-place. 



Vol. II. Kk The 



(«) Betancourt fays, that a maguei makes in fix months twenty arrobas of 

 pulque, which are more than fix hundred Italian pounds. He might know 

 this well, having been for many years a reclor among the Indians. Hernan- 

 dez affirms, that from one fingle plant are extracted fifty anfore. The Caftilian 

 anfora, which is fmaller than the Roman, contains, according to the calculation 

 of Mariana, five hundred and twelve ounces of wine, or common water. Sup- 

 pofmg that the pulque does not weigh more than water, fifty anfore will be 

 more than two thoufand pounds. 



