The Arizona sentinel., 1877-05-05
of mankind.


 as foAows: A quantity of selec- ted and well cured corn is placed in hole in the ground, lined with straw; the corn having been GOV. cred with another layer ot straw is now kept wet with warm wa. ter for several days, until sprout- ing has taken place. TAis re. auires about four days in summer and six in winter. After the pro. cess of sprouting has commenced Fit is removed from the hole and spread out on the ground to dry. When perfectly dry, it is ground up by the naatate and the result ing powder, mixed with water to the thickness of gruel. This is now boiled oven 8 slow fire, con- stantiy replacing the evaporated water by a fresh supply, for twelve hours.. It is then strained into ollas and allowed to stand until fermentation occurs, which re. quires about ten hours. The tisi- win, thus prepared, resembles in color and consistency bakers yeast. M contains about one per cent of alcohole. This when compared with ordinary beer, which accord ing to Dr. Parks should contain five per cent of alcohol, will ap- pear as rather weak for intOxicat. ing effects, and so it Is found to be in practice. The party prepar. ing it sends cut two days-.in4 sd- vance of the entertainment and invites his friends. This timely 1 notice is the signal to begin to fast. in order to place the system in a condition susceptible to the influence of alcohol. The guests having assembled, the drinking begins. There are four or five large vessels containing the fluid, and the company sit about in groups. There are but few wour- en present. as they are generally excluded from these entertain. ments. One of the party takes a cup and, passing from one olla to another, drinks offa cupful from each in quick succession, drink. ing in this manner fully quart at once. He is succeeded by an. other and so on; this is continued until the whole become drunk. The amount usually required to cause inteKication is about six quarts. To indulge in a tisivin drunk, an Indian will part with everything he may possess. An intoxicating drink is sometimes prepared by fermenting the mes cal plant (maguey a species of agGve).
 These drunken bouts seldom last more than day, as the tisivin is soon exhausted. While drunk they are communicative and guar. relsome. Striking their breasts they boast, in their "me big In. jun" style, of the number of men they have killed. Fights: aud oftentimes murders are the re. suits. No avoid these the manu. facture of tfsivin: Is fOnsidden by military authorities; {; but in spite of this it is accessory to keep a strict watch to prevent it's illicit manufacture.
 The domestic tools and utensils made and and used by these peO. pie, are few in number and of very simple construction. The following are the principal ones |: The water jug or olla is made of wicker. work and the interstices filled with resin to make them water tight. They are shaped like the old fashioned water bot tie. They vary in size from a capacity of quart to that of ten to twenty gallons those of erdi
 nary size. holding from five to ten gallons, are constantly useds by
 the women for carrying water.
 They are provided with two han. dies, to which is attached a wide strap of leather or raw hide; the
 vessel is placed on the small of the back, and supported and held
 in an upright position by this strap. which passes upwards across