The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1897-03-11
LIQUOR FROM THE CACTUS.
Tizwin, the FavOrite Triple of SOUTH
western Indians.

1lZWln is the lntOAlcant produced |
among the most uncivilized Indian |
tribes that live away up in the noun |
tains, over 200 miles from civilization. |
on the border land between Arizona |
and Mexico. 1t is made from the fruit |
of the giant cactus of the hot deserts of |
the southwest territories, known as |
sahuara fruit. Irwin is in common use |
or abuse among the southern Arizona |
Indian tribes. The fluid has recently |
been analysed by the scientific experts |
sent to the southwest by the Smith |
sonian institution to study the mode |
of life of the most primitive savages |
in the union. 1t has been found be- |
You'd any doubt that the Irwin of the |
Indians to-day is manufactured in eX-
actly the same way as in the days of |
the aborigines of this region long be- |
fore the white men came TO these shores |
from the old world.
Thus another stigma is removed from
the long-sutfering white man, who has |
been accused by the Bostonians of
teaching his poor red brother the use
of fire water. With the facts before
Us 1t appears not only probable, but
certain, that for years before Columbus
discovered America and contracted the
C:sgracefui habit of chewing and smok-
ing tobacco from the natives, the art
of painting things red was well known
in the quiet streets of the Iuni vii
lagos and the avenues of the seven
cities of Cibola. 1t was doubtless, even
at that venerable date, no uncommon
| sight for the good savage housewife
20 see the partner of her joys and sor-
VOWS come reeling to the doorstep max
ing night hideous with drunken song.
The sahuara (Cercus giganteus) is
the largest and most remarkable of
the cactus family, and is peculiar to
Arizona. Travellers through the terri
tory see thousands of these giant tree
cacti from the car windows. They
abound in the hot, sandy wastes. The
.ahuara blossoms in October and early
November, having large, starlikc flow
ers of pure white, with a golden CEN
ter. In December the fruit is ripe.
1t is pearshaped, being attached to the
limb at its pointed end, and when ma
ture turns brilliant red and splits
open at the top and sides. like Il chest
nut burr, exposing to view a luscious
red morsel of pulp filled with minute
black seeds. 1t resembles strawberry
jam. In taste it is slightly like the
raspberry, though not so sweet.
As soon as the fruit ripens the squaws
and children travel miles over noun
tain and plain to gather it in large
baskets, which they carry on their
heads. As these giant cacti are FROM
10 to 50 feet in height. much of the fruit
is out of their reach and is left for the
woodpeckers and bluejays, which are
eNtravagantly fond of it, and frequent
ly indulge to such an extent as to be-
come stupefied and unable to fly for
time. The squaws. however. easily
gather as much as they want from the
smaller plants by means of long, thin
poles, with hooks dashed at the ends,
with which they pull down the fruit.
The gathered fruit is deposited day
by day at common center, where it is
pressed and the juice collected into
large earthen oilaS, where modicum
of water is added. These ollas are
stored in a closed, dark room, where
4 slow fire is kept up for several days
until the liquid begins to show a foam
on top, which is a sign that it is fer
mcnting. 1t has then attained the de-
sired Intoxicating power, and word
passes from mouth TO mouth and from
village to village.
As soon as the welcome news ar
rives all hands knock off various other
kinds of loating and hasten to the tiz-
win camp to put in their time around
the improyiscd barroOm. stupefying
themselves with frequent draughts of
the liquor and dancing or fighting be-
tween drinks. The squaws and chill
dren, who are never allowed to Join
in the revelry. manage to get their
fun out of the affair by climbing to the
low roofs of the Wickiups and viewing
the drunken revels of their lords and
masters. Thus the orgie continues
night and day until the supply is ex-
llaustcd; and by this time the passions
of the Indians, naturally fierce and
| cruel, having been inflamed a hundred
fold, some one in the crowd utte-s a
war whoop. and they leap on their
ponies and are off on Il raid against the
whites.
The Apache at best is but devil,
hut when his blood is heated with IN
I win the father of evil himself is a re-
fined gentleman in comparison.
AS sahuara fruit ripens only once
year, it is a whole twelvemonth be-
tween drinks with the Indians, and all
their worst outbreaks have occurred in
the tizwin camp. The old settlers who
still manage to worry along in this
sunny cline have good reason to re-
member tizwin time and its regular re-
currence every summer. To them it
recalls many a fierce outbreak of the
bloodthirsty Apaches.-St. Louis Globe
Democrat
A Delicious Fruit Meat.