St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1893-06-24
TIzwlN. THE INDIAN DRINK.


8now0 - TIE Astecs Loag Before Colum.
bas Cane 70 America.
The name Of the intoxicant produced
and used by the Indians of Arizona il
tizwin. It Is manufactured from the
fruit OF the sahuara or giant cactus,
and its use or abuse II common to all
the Arizona tribes The Indians say
that its mode of manufacture and use
have been handed down through un-
numbered generations Of their ances-
tors. and SO it was known to the pre-
historic races The sahuara (Cereus
Giganteus) is the largest and most re-
markable Of the cactus family, and il
peculiar to Arizona. II blossoms in
May or June, having large starlike
flowers Of pure white with . golden
center. In July or August the fruit
Is rips. 1t Is pear-shsped, being At
tached 70 the limb At its pointed
end. and when mature turns .
brilliant red and splits open at the top
and sides like chestnut burr, expos
ing to view . luscious red morsel of
pulp filed with minute black seeds. It
resembles strawberry jam. In taste It
is slightly like the raspberry, though
not 50 sweet. As soon rs the fruit
ripens the squaws and children travel
miles over mountain and plain to gather
1t in large baskets, which they carry on
their heads. As these giant cacti are
from ten to fifty feet in height, much of
the fruit is out of their reach and il left
for the woodpeckers and blue-jays,
which are extravagantly fond Of it,
and frequently indulge to such an ex-
tent rs to become stupified and unable
to fy for . time. The squaws, how
ever, easily gather as much rs
they want from the smaller plants by
means Of long, thin poles with wooden
hooks lashed At the ends, with which
they pull down the fruit. The gathered
fruit is deposited day by day at . COM
mon center, where it il pressed and the |
Juice collected into large earthen ollas |
where modicum Of water is added. |
These ollas are stored in . closed dark |
room where slow fire is kept up for |
'everal days until the liquid begins to
show . foam on top, . sign that Il is
It has then attained the /
lesired intoxicating power, and word |
,asses from mouth to mouth and from |
'illage to village.
As soon ~ the welcome news arrives
III hands knock OF various other kinds
4 loafing and hasten to the tizwin
amp to put in their time around the
bar-room, stupefying them
elves with frequent draughts Of the
iquor and dancing or fighting between
lrinkA The squaws and children, who
re never allowed to join in the revelry,
manage to get their fun out of the
fair by climbing to the low roofs of
he wickiups and viewing the drunken
evels of their lord and masters. Thus
he orgy continues night and day until
he supply is exhausted, and BY this
ime the passions of the Indians, natur-
lily fierce and cruel. having been in
AIMED hundredfold, some one in the
rowd utters a war-whoop, and they
zap on their ponies and are OF on .
aid against the whites. The Apache
{ best Is but q devil, but when his
lood is heated with tizwin the father
{ evil himself is q refined gentleman
4 comparison. As sahuara fruit ripens
My once year it is q whole twelve
lonth between drinks with the In
ians, and all their worst outbreaks
ave occurred in the tizwin season.-I'
IN Francisco Examiner.