Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1895-03-14
DRINK FROM CACTUS.
Tizwin, the Favorite OF tho
Apache Indiana.

DvSr6rOWn member Oh numerous ana
prolific family. Contrary to the gen
2ral rule with unique productions in
both the animal and vegetable king
IONS, there is no immediate danger of
this curious plant becoming extinct,
for there are portions of Arizona where
its lofty fluted columns, standing in
open order, dot the landscape as far as
the eye can see, covering the desolate
plains and foothills like an immense
army Of slSirmishers.
To the native Indian, says the Kansas
'ity Journal. the Sahuarah pronounced
.ahwah-rah) is valuable and useful
plant, standing in much the same rela-
ion 10 him as the cocoanut palm to the
:outh Sea islanders. 1t supplies him
shelter, food, drink, and many other
accessories. 1t is almost anlmal-lilSe
III its construction, having n frame
work or skeleton clothed with soft,
:icShy matter which, in it's turn, is pro-
,Sctcd by n tough epidermis. This skin
icing watcrtight, preserves moisture
u the interior, which would otherwise
quickly cvaporatc under the rays of
he torrid sun, leaving it to dry up and
lie. So important il the service of this
Kin to the life Of the plant that it IS
,;>clf protected from abrasion by for
.1i!able array of briatling thorns,
which guard the surface at every
'~int. 1t is thus that even III The midst
# the most barren and thirsty deserts.
there there is sometimes no rainfall
~ months, the S;huarah Is able to
reserve for its own use sufficient wa
ter to live upon.
The heart of the plant, which con-
,iats of a soft white pith, is surrounded
with genuine skeleton, formed OF
long, slender strips Of soft though
tough and strinry wood, standing in a
circle and reaching from end 10 end III
the shaft, each strip parallel To th;.
others and all joined together ut inter
walls BY cross fibcra. These make OK
ccllent ready made fishpolcs AMI tho
Indians also use them for making t!.ir
huts, or ''wickiupS,' and Frequently
construct the entire building with
them. The fruit is about the size ana
hapc of rather small hen egg. and is,
'ttached without stem directly T.. I-ty
blunt end of the shaft and the var; -.
limbs. When ripe. the green hull
which has by this time assumed Il :ic.!r-
let hue, splits open in four l0bc.;. like
The calyX OF tulip, disclosing to view
an upright. pulpy mass, with the ,rn-
SiStcncy of fig, and, like th> letter.
iillcd with innumcrablc black s2C,,I.
This is delicious when eaten frC.,h. .rI
also when dried and prepared by the
squawS as preserve resembling fig
pilatG.
But the fruit is chiefly valued by the
In Cl- g.
facture of the Indian intoXicant, liz
win, which is made by fcrmcntJti"E.
md by means Of which every year i
the ripcning each tribe inCiul;:c in :.
grand annual carouSc. 1t j.; dllr;rir
these "tiHwin drunlls." as they are
called by the whites, that most OF the
raids and outrngcS have occurred IL
past years. AS soon as the fruit ri1cils
thc Squ&ws, taking the children With
'ACn, sally forth to the liarvvs :. tly.ml,-
II miles over mountain aud pl..ln. end
'athcr it into large, pcculii:r-.,hapcd
'askcts. which they carry balanced on
'hrir heads.
When, after numerous journeys back
and forth, IL sufficient quantity has
been gathered, the juice is pressed out
by trcadiuT the fruit in wide, shallow
''"#llcts, and collected into large Garth
= j.Ti (ollaT), where n modicum of
.ivr "aG,!cd. These are then stored
i ""r@ COON Of even temperature.
&c Il ',nlcll fire is kept constantly
ling until Il white froth appearing
the surface indicates that fcrmcnta-
II has commenced. 1t has then at
ncd the requisite Intoxicating
yer, and the welcome news is
.'@"Cd from mouth to mouth and from
rliagc to village, while everyone
,a5tcns to the "tizwin camp" and
! "Hcccds without further ceremony to
.,ioHicatc himself as e~pcditiously as
! an be accomplished. Meanwhile the
si'laws and children, who are never
allowed to join in the rcvclry, manage
| u get their fun out of the affair az
spectators. They climb on top Of the
low roofs of the "wiclIiups," ana
there, pcrchcd securely out of hurma
way, they view with shouts of laughter
! or hOwlS Of woe, as the cnse NAV be.