422 On the Commerce of Mexico. 
ing the juice it contains, twice in the day, taking particular 
care to cover up the aperture with leaves and stones, lest 
the cattle, dogs, or “cagates,” a small species of jackal, 
which infests the country in large numbers, should get at 
the juice. 
As we have before seen, the honeywater varies in quan- 
tity, colour, and quality, according to the species of the 
plant, the producing time of which may be said to extend 
on an average to about three months, although some sorts 
only yield juice during a period of twenty days, and other 
sorts are so exuberant that they yield it during six months, 
and that in large quantities. The least productive species 
of the plant is calculated to yield about 60 arrobas, whilst 
the finest sort of all, the “ Manso legitimo” of the plains 
of Apam, before alluded to, yields, when it has attained 
complete maturity, from 140 to 160 arrobas. The average 
quantity yielded by each plant, one with another, may be 
roughly estimated at about 100 arrobas. 
The “tinicales”” or pulque manufactories of the different 
maguey plantations, consist of a long covered-in gallery, 
well ventilated, and containing rows of vats made of 
bullock’s hide stretehed over a modern framework, and 
smeared over with lime on the outside, into which the 
honey water is emptied so soon as it is brought in from the 
plantations, and which, in about thirty-six hours begins to 
ferment, casting up large bubbles of froth, losing its pristine 
transparent colour, and assuming a milky whitish tint, 
which it permanently retains. It was formerly the habit 
to throw lime ora plant called “Ocgractli” into the honey- 
water, in order to produce a greater degree of fermentation ; 
but, now, only a small quantity of “ madue del pulque,” or 
pulque already manufactured, is poured into the empty 
vats, which quickly deposits a thick and whitish coloured 
sediment, upon which the new juice or honeywater is thrown 
in; the mixture after fermentation being ready for use, is 
then sent off to the city of Mexico, Puebla, or the nearest 
market, within a radius of 20 or 30 leagues ; the pulque 
very commonly undergoing a considerable dilution of water 
at the hands of the “arrieros,” or carriers, who convey it 
in sheepskin bags upon mules or donkeys. The quantity 
of it which, thus annually enters the city of Mexico alone, 
may be estimated on the average, to be about 2,000,000 
arrobas, and that which enters Puebla, to be about 500,000 
arrobas, and the cost of transport alone has been calculated, 
taking the approximate average of I real as that of each 
