Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1895-03-17
DRINK FROM CACTUS.
Tizwin, tho Favorite OF the
Apaoho Indians.

Tho giant cactus, or Sahuarah, is
peculiar TO Arizona. 1t is n weird, un-
couth specimen of vegetation, and Is,
as its name implies, giunt-thc most
Ovcrgrown member of n numerous and
prolific family. Contrary to the gen.
cral rule with unique productions in
both the animal and vegetable king
doms, there is no immediate danger of
this curious plant becoming extinct,
for there are portions of Arizona where
its lofty flutcd columns, standing in
open order, dot the landscape as far as
the eye can sec, covering the desolate
plains and foothills like an immense
army of slsirmishcrs.
To the native Indian, says the Kansas
City Journal, the Sahuarah pronounced
sah-wah-rah) is n valuable and useful
plant, standing in much the same rcln-
tion to him as the cocoanut palm to the
South Sea islanders. 1t supplies him
shelter, food, drink, nnd many other
neccssarics. 1t is almost unlmal-likc
in its construction, having n frame
work OF skeleton clothed with soft,
HcShy matter which, in its turn, is pro-
tcctcd by tough cpidermis. This skin
III the interior, which would otherwise
quickly cvaporatc under the rays of
the torrid sun, leaving it to dry up and
die. So important is the service of this
akin to the life of the plant that it is
itscif protected from abrasion by for
midable array of bristlins thorns,
which guard the surface Mt every
point. 1t is thus that even III the midst
OF the most barren and thirsty deserts,
where there is sometimes no rainfall
Tor months, the Sahuarah is able to
preserve for it's own use sufficient wa
ter to live upon.
The heart of the plant, which con-
"iatS OF soft white pith, is surrounded
with genuine skeleton, formed of
long, slender strips of soft though
tough and strin!:y wood, standing in n
circle and reaching from end To end of
the shaft. each strip parallel to the
others md all joined together at inter
walls by cross iiGcrs. These make cx-
ccllcnt ready made Gshpolcs, and the
Indians also use them for making their
huts. or ''wiclsiups," and frequently
construct the entire building with
thcm. The fruit IL ubGut the size and
'hapc of rather small hen cr,g. and Is
itachcd without stem directly TO the
ulunt end Of the shaft and the various
limbs. When ripe, the green hull.
which has by this time assumed n scar-
let hue, splits open in four lobcs. like
the cnlyx of n tulip, disclosing to view
an upright, pulpy mass. with the con-
slstency OF a fig, and, like the latter,
hlled with innumcrablc black seeds.
This is delicious when eaten fresh. and
also when dried and prepared by the
sqnaws as preserve resembling FIR
paste.
But the fruit is chiefly valued by the
dusky natives for its use i'm the manu-
facturc OF the Indian intoxicant, tiz-
win, which is made by fermentation,
and by means OF which every year nt
the ripcning each tribe INDUCES in n
grand annual cnrousc. IL is during
these "tizwin drunks." as they arc
called by the whites, that most of the
raids und outrngcs have occurred III
past years. AS soon as the frnit ripcna
the squaws, taking the children with
them, sally forth to the harvest. tramp
ing miles over mountain and plain, an
rather 1t into large, pcculiar-slIupct
baskets, which they carry balanced OF
lnClr ncnuS.
When, after numerous journeys bacl;
and forth, sufficient quantity hn.
been gathered, the juice is pressed on
by trcnding the fruit In wide. ghallov
baskets, and collected into large earth
u jars tollas), where n modicuin O.
Htcr Is added. These are then store
" dark room of even tcmpcraturc
"crc small fire Is kept constantly
'nrning until n white froth appearing
OH the surface indicates that fcrmcnta.
tion has commenced. II has then ut
taincd the requisite Intoxicating
power, and the welcome news Is
passed from mouth TO mouth and from
village to village, while everyone
hnstcns to the "tizwin camp" and
proceeds without further ceremony TO
intoxicatc himself rs e~pcditiously as
can be accomplished. Meanwhile tho
squaws and children, who arc never
allowed to join in the rcvelry, manage
to got their fun out of the affair as
spectators. They climb on top OF the
low roofs OF the "wickiups," and
there, pcrchcd securely out of harms
way, they view with shouts of laughter
or howls OF voc, ns tho casc may DO,
tho drunken orgies Of their lords.
Crentures of thu NtvbA