The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1895-03-15
DRINK FROM CACTUS.
Tizwin, the Favorite Of the
Apache Indians.
The Grand Annual Carouse of the Ari-
IONA Tribes at Which the RedmeD
PHI Up and Have "A Great
Time.

ne giant Cactus OF ~dnuardn. Is
peculiar to Arizona. 1t is weird, un-
couth specimen of vegetation. and is.
as is name implies, "A giant-thc most
overfrrown member of a numerous and
prolific family. Contrary To the gen
cral rule with unique productions in
both the animal and vegetable king
domS. there il no immediate danger of
this curious plant becoming extinct
for there are portions of Arizona where
its lofty futcd columns. standing in r.
open order. dot the landscape aS far as
the eye can see. covering the dcSolate
plains and foothills like an immense
army of sIlirInishcrs.
To the native Indian. says the Kansas
City Journal. the Sahuarah n pronounced
sah-wHh-rahl is a valuable and useful
plant. standing in much the same rcla-
tiun to him aS the cocoanut palm to the
South sea islanders. 1t supplies him
shelter. food drink. and many other
ncccaSaricS. 1t Il almost anImal-lille
III its construction, having frame
work or skeleton clothed with soft.
hc>hy matter which. in its turu. i pro-
tcctcd 10y tough epidermis. This skin
being yvatcrtight, preserves moisture
in the interior. which would otherwise
quickly cvaporate under the RAYS Of
die. 80 important Is the service Of this
skin To the life of the plant that it is
itself protected from abrasion by for
Inidable array of bristling thorns.
which guard the surface at every
point. 1t i thus that even in the midst
OF the most barren and thirsty deserts
where there iS sometimes no rainfall
for months. the Sahuarah il able to
preserve for its own use sufficient wa
ter t. live upon.
The heart of the plant, which CON
siSt~ OF Il soft white pith. Is surrounded
with genuine skeleton. formed OF
long. slender strips of soft though
tough and stringy wood, standing in a
circle and reaching from end To end OF
the shaft. each strip parallel to the
others and AL Joined together at inter
vals 10y cross iiberS. These make cx-
ccllcnt ready made fishpolcs. and the
Indians also use them for making their
huts. or ''wickupS." and frequently
construct the entire building with
them The fruit is about the size and
shape Of rather small hen egg. and l.
attached without stem directly to the
blunt end Of the shaft and the various
limbs. When ripe, the green hull.
which has by this time assumed Il scar
let hue. splits open in four lobcs. like
the calyN of tulip. disclosing 10 view
an upright. pulpy mass. with the con
si~tcncy of a Zig. and. like the latter.
Ill,d with innumerable black seed.
This Is deliciouS when eaten fresh. and
ais" when dried and prepared by the
NqUawS "a a preserve resembling fig
paste.
But the fruit is chiefly valued by the
1,,t -
facturc of the Indian intoxicant. tiz-
win. which Is made by fermentation.
and by means of which every year at
the ripening each tribe INDUCES in
grand annual carouse. 1t il during
these ''tizyin drunks." a. they are
called 10y the whites. that most of the
raids and outrages have occurred IL
past years. \, soon a. the iruit ripcus
the >qUaws. taking the children with
them. -ally forth to the harvest. tramp
ing miles over mountain and plain. and
gather it into large. peculiar->hapcd
baskets. which they carry balanced on
their heads.
When. after numerous journeys back
and forth, Il sufficient quantity has
been gathered. the juice l. pressed ont
10y trcadin- the fruit in wide. shallow
baskets. and collected into LARGE Garth
vn jars lpilasl. where Il mojicuu OF
water l. added. These are then stored
in a dark room OF even temperature.
where q small fire i kept constantly
burning until Il white froth appearing
ON the surface indicates that fcrInruta-
tIDn has commenced. 1t has then at
tanned the requisite Intoxicating
power. and the welcome news l.
passed from mouth to mouth au,i from
EaStcns to the .'tizwin camp" and
proceeds without further ccrcIn5ny to
iutoxicatc himself as expedition Il a.
can be accomplished. Meanwhile. the
sIliaws and children. who are never
allowed to join in the rcvclry. manage
to get their fun out OF the affair as
spectators. They climb on top Of the
low roofs of the .-wiclliupS~ and
there. pcrched securely out Of harms
way, they view with shouts of laughter
or howlS of woe. as the case may be.
the drunken orgies OF their lords.
In truth. it l. an interesting sight.
but should be viewed by white men
only under the protection of strong
military escort. for the Apache i, hut a
devil at best. and when filled with fire
water" the father OF evil himself is
polite and benevolent gentleman in
comparison. Staggering about with
Uplittcd knives, or rushing madly to
and fro on horseback dischargin- their
firearms. and giving vent to thCjr feel
iu-s in bloOd-curdling yellS. they con-
tinuc the celebration night and day
until the supply of tiZvin is exhausted.
and 10y this time their passions natural
" fierce and brutal. becoming inilamcd
to the highest degree. bloodshcd j. sure
To follow. 1t i seldom indeed that this
annual festival passes without the set
tlcmcnt of some long-standin@ fcud or
difference by swift knife or murderous
war club.
The custom of holding these tizwin
reunions Is common to all the tribes of
Arizona. whether warlikc Apache or
friendly Pima or Papago. Anon" the
latter when the killing point i reached.
they content themselves with 4 victim
or two from among their own number.
bi when the Apachcs' rcvcls arrive ut
this point. unless the troops on the res
crvation are numerous enough To hold
them well in check. raid among the
white settlers and Il long list of out
RACES iS sure to follow.
Among the Hawaiian prisoners last
year, 2.5O3 were Hawaiiaus, 2s6 Eng
lish; American, 599; German. 9S; French,
lG; Portuguese, PIP; Chinese. 1.O63;
Japanese, 267; South Sea islanders. 81.
Mamma, why are these al
ways called June apples?'' Mamma
wen, dear, because they ripen in
july. Inter Ocean