The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-12-02
A DRINK WITH G IN IT.
AGUARDIENTE AND CHIMITA MEAN
MISCHIEF Nv NEW MEXICO.
It Is n Famous Brncer In the Morning. but
at. Other Timer ~ Porteudr Violence
had Men Use ne 20 Prim. ThemseIves.

the hacienda Of n wealthy Spanish-Americnn In
the Rio Grande Valley. II was at his house that
I made the acquaintance OF chimiya, and, taken
all In all, my first impression Of that enchanting
weed was a pleasant one. Chimiya, | should say
In the beginning, IL a native variety of Wild
celery, which possesses an aroma, flavor, and
nervine property that throw the cultivated
variety miles into the shade, aud its bracing eff
fects when used In connection with aguardiente
commend it to the c%onvivial taste for
which brandy and absinthe have become
too weak. My hosts house was a great
square adobe affair occupying half as
much ground as n city block. IL was one
story high, and built about n courtyard upon
which most Of its verandas and windows faced,
instead Of being n. the exterior. u fashion per-
petua cd from Indian days, when every isolated
house had TO be n fortress. My sleeping room.
its adobe floor strcwn with skins and Indian
blankets. was spacious, high. and comfortable.
"On the morning after my arrival, ut :
o'clock, my hosts eldest son tapped at the door,
and. finding that ! was awake, entered, followed
by mn Indian servant bearing n tray on which
were II dccanter and glasses. The decanter wns
filed with n pale yellow liquor, surrounding a
handful of small leafy plants, and the combina-
ton diiiusCd u pleasant aromatic odor. in which
was n suggestion Of brandy and of celery.
my father sends you his compliments, and
asks IL you would like a morning drink after
our home fashion, said the young man. speak
ing his English a little slowly and precisely.
Upon my asserting he gravely poured out u
large-sized wliskey gla.s two-thirds full.
"'lt is aguardientc aud Chimiya." lie added.
The aguardientc we make ut my fathers vine
yards. The ~chimiya? 1t grows wild. and our
lnborers' children gather 1t in the season. 1t is
what you call celery when it grows in gardens,
and IL is very good to take in the morning with
aguardiente. IL Is an appetizer a bracer-a
great braccr.'
ut was a bracer indeed. as I found after swal-
lowing the drink which, In the hardihocd in
duced by my months of outdoor life, | took
without dilution, though the aguardente. pure
white native brandy. was fiery and strong. 1t
was q drink to prepare one to confront all the
ills and celebrate all the Joys of life. | dressed
rapturously ana went down the broad hall into
the reception room. where my host was giving
instructions about the work on the estate to his
major domo or head ovcrseer, who, with SOM
brerO in hand and spurs ON heel, stood in an at
titude OF respectful attention, There was an
other drink OF a2uardientc and chimiya no less
heroic. than the first. to be taken before the
breakfast was served, and the epicurean luxury
this fragrant. potent tipple impaired to brown
wheaton bread. ground corn tOrtillns. beans and
chilli peppers. fried bcefsteak. aud coffee can be
undcl stood fully only by those who have pre-
pared tor the feast after the native fashion in
the. country Of the chimlya.
In my week spent at this Mexican house the
mornings al began in the same way a. the first.
During the rest OF tine day there were whiskcy.
agnardiCntc, and native wine in abundance to
drink. but the chimiya was used only to begin
the day, the fragrant preparation for the rides
about the estate, the visits to old churches. his
torlc spots, and strange villages Of the Pueblo
Indians. the midday sicstas. and the guitar
playing, and story telling in the cool OF evening
before the eGrly, bcdtimr. which made M the
round OF daily life at the hacienda. My host,
who had led troops more than once against the
Indians, told me that II was the custom in old
days to deal out chlmiya aud aguardientc To the
volunteers when they marched to fight the
NavajOes and Apaches.
1t gave them courage so they would make
long marches cheerfully. and fight till they
dropped or conquered he said.
This, my first experience of the qualities and
effects OF chimiya. as | have said. was pleasant.
My next was. not so agreeable. ! was making n
wagon trip in the country west of the Rio
stalwnrt miner whose experience covered the
Pacific coast from California to British Column
big mining camps developed IN the last fifteen
years In Colorado and New Mexico. We were
going into the mountains to see som Of his
mines In the Del Monte camp. On our second
day out we stopped for the night in IA little
plaz"ta. or Mexican village, near the base OF the
mountains which W. would enter the next
day, An. American kept the principal store
sort OF hotel. Connec:ed with the establish
ment was n saloon. and as there was a game Of
after supper. went. in to look on for a little
while. \ young Mexican called PorfiriO. APP
parently OF the wcalthicr class. was bucHing the
game and was the only player at the table. lie
was, a .truculent-lOukinG fellow. and evidently
the leader OF a party Of four or five young meiI
Of his race who. with spurs on their heels and
quirs dangling at their sides, stood about watch
Ing the fortunes OF the game. They were an un-
pleasant-looking crowd. and evidently stood
ready TO take their cue from the leader. Pur-
hrio,, who was losing at the game and in u de-
money at last. and, after losing the iittie thai
he could borrow from his comrades. left the
table and the bank closed.
II NNaIf NRhAra NI.tr
horses were tied, but instead of mounting and
riding away they gathered together about the
Once or twice we caught the expressions. evil
dasn,i$ idT nm out r FOR G%nrr hsaTing' OF ,hamned
Dietrich without looking NJ me spoke softiys
" Those fellows are ready To pick a quarrel
with US, They are drunk and ugly and will fol-
a bad lot and has been before the courts Tor
murder. Go quietly upstairs To our room and
good working order, ard give mine To the store
keeper. Tel Lin To- put II where can find it
and is all right. Keep your own in your pocket
$50 | sauntered chrelcssly into the store. then
ran w, stairs; and came back with my pistol, a
self-COCker, in my pocket. and Diet
Tich's heavy As revolver under my coat. The
latter passed to the storekeeper when | could
message, lie answered with his eyeIids That he
understood, and presently moving down to the
beneath the end OF the counter where ii was out
OF sight. but, could easily lie reached by n person
IN PRESSING men l went INTO the saloon again,
Dietrich was sitting where | had lett him. and
the Mexicans were hling up 10 the bar TO drink.
The bartender an American, passed out n whis-
key ,decanter,. hut POrtiriO, sCowlinG. shook his
head, and said in Spanish, and then in English:
Not that! Give us some with chimiyR.'
80 a bottle containing whisky and ChimiyR
was set on the counter, ana they took stiff
drinks all round.
That's what | was looking for them 10 do
said Dietrich. They're printing themselves for
some deytltry, and think they mean rs. IL
they were only out for a trOllc they'd have taken
the plain whiskey. When you bee them drink
ing Chinlya at this time OF day look out for mis-
chief. Whether they're simply lighting ugly
and want n quarrel with some one. or are plan
ming to run of our horses, or are getting bTaCed
to hold us up in the foothills Tomorrow, we
must wait TO see
"Well. the quarrel came that night. but as no
one was seriously hurt at that time will not
linger over the details. The Mexicans followed
US from the saloon into the store. where POFirin,
ordering a half-pint measure OF whiskcy, in
sisted that we drink with him, and when / de-
clined found myself stTaightway looking
into the muzzle OF his gun. At that, Dietrich, |
who was standing near the end OF the counter,
made a quick step forward. and his heavy re-
yolyer crashed ,squsrely down upon the Next
cans head, so that Don PorfiriO dropped like a
log 20 the floor. The others started Ia To pull
NhafH 49, R.pa h"V hf.V.s,I III