Am.  Jour.  Pharm.  1 
Oct.,  1878.  J 
The  Mesquite. 
481 
an  inch  or  more  in  length  j  the  flowers  are  small,  greenish-yellow,  and 
crowded  in  dense  axillary  spikes  ;  the  pod  or  bean  is  from  6  to  9  inches 
in  length,  curved  or  straight,  flattened,  and  constricted  between  the 
seeds. 
There  are  several  species  of  mesquite,  but  the  one  under  considera- 
tion (Prosopis  glandulosa  of  botanists)  has  the  widest  range,  being  found 
as  far  north  as  the  Canada  river,  and  extending  south  into  Mexico  ;  it 
appears  in  Texas  not  far  from  the  coast,  and  is  the  most  abundant  tree 
as  far  west  as  the  Colorado  and  Gulf  of  California.  Were  it  not  for 
the  presence  of  the  mesquite  immense  tracts  in  Arizona  and  Northern 
Mexico  would  present  greater  difficulties  to  travelers  than  they  do, 
since  this  tree  affords  the  sole  fuel  and  forage  of  the  country.  As  fuel, 
the  wood  has  no  superior  \  it  makes  a  fire  almost  as  intense  as  one  of 
anthracite.  The  pods  or  beans,  which  ripen  in  June,  contain  a  sugary 
pulp,  having  an  agreeable  blending  of  sweetness  and  acidity,  somewhat 
like  the  harvest  apple.  They  are  very  nutritious,  and  while  their 
importance  to  the  civilized  traveler  lies  in  their  value  as  food  for  horses 
in  districts  destitute  of  grass,  they  are  of  still  greater  importance  as 
articles  of  food  to  the  Indians  living  within  its  reach.  To  whites,  the 
taste  of  the  fruit  is  somewhat  mawkish  and  unpleasant,  but  it  is  greatly 
relished  by  the  Mexicans  and  Indians.  The  latter,  when  the  pods  are 
in  a  fresh,  ripe  state,  put  them  into  a  wooden  or  stone  mortar  and  bruise 
them,  then  mix  them  with  water  and  empty  them  into  an  earthen  dish, 
where,  after  standing  a  few  hours,  there  results  a  sort  of  cold  porridge 
or  mush.  All  present  then  collect  around  the  newly-prepared  mess, 
and,  sitting  on  the  ground  near  the  dish,  scoop  the  food  out  with  their 
hands  without  any  ceremony,  and  without  regard  to  distinction  of  rank, 
age  or  sex.  The  nearly  naked  bodies  of  the  Indians  soon  become 
smeared  with  the  food  from  head  to  foot,  and  the  shaggy  appearance  of 
their  hair  adds  nothing  to  their  aspect  of  cleanliness.  The  meal 
finished,  their  faces  assume  a  complaisant  look,  while  their  tumid  abdo- 
mens give  abundant  evidence  of  the  quantity  of  food  consumed. 
The  pods,  as  they  ripen,  are  gathered  for  winter  use  ;  and,  after 
being  thoroughly  dried,  are  stowed  in  cylindrical-shaped  baskets  made 
of  twigs,  and  covered  with  mud  and  grass  to  keep  out  rain.  In  this 
shape  they  can  be  preserved  for  a  long  time.  They  are  among  the 
great  luxuries  of  the  Apaches,  Pimas,  Yumas,  Maricopas,  Mohaves, 
Hualipais,  Cocopahs  and  Moquis  of  Arizona,  besides  of  many  tribes 
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