Cheraw gazette and Pee Dee farmer. [volume] (Cheraw S.C.) 1838-1839, 1839-09-27
From the St. Louis, Missouri Argus.

The MAscAL PLANT.-This cxtraordiu.
ary vegetable production, "a description Of
which has never been published) IS only 10
be found on t Rio Gr nie, and its tribut.
ary streams, N. w. of the Mexican repub.
lic--it grows spontaneously on the most
barren and sterile mountains in that coun-
try, and is as much esteemed as an article.
of food by The Mexican Indians as if the
Buffalo. The Elk, and the Deer, by their
more Northern neighbors. The Mascal
grows in the shape ola cabbage head, aud
NAV be found as large IN size as half bar.
rel it is thckly covered with shark prick.
ly pro;uberances to the length Of from Twelve
10 eighteen inches. the root is very small
the head has also thick covering ofleaves,
much resembling in shape those Of the Plan
tation tree, which are very juicy, and when
prepared for eating in the same manner as
the head, afford sweet and nutritious be.
verage, answering every purpose to allay q
thirst. !,
The process used for cooking this plant
is very singular, yet if digressed from 10 q
single instance the Mascal is spoiled aud rem.
dered unfit for USE it consists ofdigging
hole or pit in the ground to the depth OF
four or five feet which must be covered
with layer of heated rocks, on. which the
Mascal is 10 be placed with the root down.
ward q thick cost Of leaves and bushels
must be thrown over the mouth Of the PIT.
over all of which is to be lam thin coat OF
dirt Jus. sufficient to prevent the heat or
steam from escaping. 10 this situation
must the Mascal remain (according to In.
dian computation--for three days and three
nights, when It may be taken out, and viii
be found perfectly cooked, and most delle-
ious food. In favour i, resembles ripe
INFLOW peach, each succeeding day adding
10 its good qualities, It in crrasrs IN excel.
Ience by age. On this plant alone DO tho
Indians subsist for months. being perfectly
satisfied with their food, and esteemlng It
above all other. About half pound Of
Mascal is by them deemed sufficicn, to sat-
isfy the cravings of hunger for day, and
IS always carried with them on their hunting
and other excursions.--As before observ.
J, the leaves oftn favoured plant cons ain
rich aud de ish'ful beverage, altogether
forming a most extraordinary combination
of food and drink, thus affording another
illuslrurion of the benefconce ola kind Pro .
vidence in securing even to the wild and
untutored savage luxury which their more
favored lind cv lzed brethren might well
envy.
lhave seen the Mascal SO hick in some
places as to form an almost impenetrabte
forest of lhorns, as formidable in appearances
as would be- the same number Of glittering
spears, converting the whole expense OF :he
cnuntry rs far as the eye could see, in trav.
Fl ing through which the incau,ious or un.
wary will be reminded by gentle stab OF
the necessity there is TO have care.
may also mention that many OF The
peasantry Of the states of Lonova and Chi
buahua, bordering on this country. also cul.
,va,e the Mascal in their fields and gardens,
and have been informed distl, from it Ii.
quor which is said to be excellent, and not
inferior to the bfst Jamaica Rum.