The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1900-07-05
DRUNKENNESS IN MEXICO.
Picture of the Evils as Drawn
by a Missionary Mt
Guerrero.


increase, and there can be no reason
able doubt that if some means are not
found to check it it will sap the vital
force of this nation; for no race of
physical degenerates can stand out
against the highly elaborated and
deadly vices of modern civilization.
Such a thing as public sentiment
against drunkenness does not exist.
Scarcely a birthday party or ball, or
social function of any kind, and in
many instances not even a funeral,
but is celebrated" by copious drafts
of the cup that inebriates as well as
cheers. Indeed to such alarming pro-
portions has the drink habit grown
that the government, while licensing
all and every kind of a dram shop, at
the same time publishes from time to
time articles in its official press con-
demning the evil.
In Guerrero pulque is practically
unknown, for Mexico City is the CEN
ter of that ill-smelling beverage.
With the railway extension, however,
pulque acclimatizes itself everywhere.
In this state those who can afford
it drink claret, sherry and cham
payne, not forgetting lager beer,
which is to the average Mexican what
water is to the duck. Aquardiente,
which is nothing more or less than
low-grade alcohol, made from sugar
cane on every hacienda in the state, is
also favored by many, but the grand
distinctive drink of Guerrero is mes
cal. This liquor is distilled from a
species of century plant, as we would
call it different from the species
from which pulque is made), that is
found in nearly the entire Sierra
Madre above certain altitude. 1t
grows to a large size, and when
about six or seven years old sends up
tall flower stalk, and after seeding
dries up. The plant has number of
practical uses other than as the foun-
tain head of mescal. The leaves can
be used for matching or for house
walls, the butts of the leaves or the
tended flower stalk can be roasted in
the ashes and eaten with relish when
hOJuluS tlSc Is W NC udu anu Ouc IL
very hungry. The flower stalk itself
is light and strong, and is used for
rafters to support the light palm
thatch of the houses.
But the chief use of the plant is as
a base for the extraction of the fiery
drink mescal. The first concern is to
select a place for the still. This is
generally in a ravine, near the slopes
where the maguey is found in album
dance, and through which flows a
mountain torrent. Nearly always the
place is wild and inaccessible, sur
rounded by the giant pines of the
Sierra Madre, where at night the
scream of the mountain lion is no I'M
common sound. The distillery con-
sists of a long shed matched with
palm. Underneath are the watts; raw
hides supported on a framework of
poles. There is also an oven made by
following out cavity in the ground
and lining it with stones. The still is
generally a rude affair, arranged Sc
that runnel of water, tapped from
the stream some distance above, can
flow over it. On donkey and mule
and lean horses the butts of the ma
guey leaves are collected from the
ripe plants and carried to the oven,
where they are roasted for two days
and then put in the watts to rot and
ferment; a process which takes from
four to eight days, according to the
temperature of the place After be-
ing well rotted, they are taken out
and mashed and put in the still. The
vapor rises, condenses and trickles out
a colorless water-like stream. A Sec
ond time it is Tslt through the still
at gentle heat, and this time it
energies clear and sparkling, to de-
flight the palates and damn the lives
of those who drink it. 1t is now put
up in kegs; oval shaped and fiat on
the sides, almost two feet high and
~ feet across the widest part. Each
is worth about SIS in Mexican silver,
and each weighs about IT'S pounds
Two kegs, or $50 pounds, is considered
an average mule load by those who
traffic in the stuff. All over the state
this liquor is for sale, but the coast
plain is the great consumer.
In the dry months all the trails
leading from the Sierra to the coast
are frequented by mule trains; as
many as 30 mules often in one train,
each loaded with a pair of mescal
kegs, and driven by as reckless and
| loud-mouthed muleteers as are to be
found anywhere. The profits are tre-
mendous, averaging about $50 per
| cent. on the investment. So great are
| they that it is no uncommon sight to
see huacalero ii. e., a man who trav-
els on foot with huacal strapped on
his back in which he carries goods
with demijohn of mescal, from
which he sells "drams" at one or two
cents each. Not fandango or social
! function among the greater part of
the people is complete without copi-
Gus draughts of mescal. To it's use
can be traced 90 per cent. of all the
crimes committed in ranches and viii
lagos. The ordinarily polite, hos
pitable and gentle inhabitant of Guer-
zero is changed by mescal into raw
ing maniac, insolent, unreasonable
and brutal. The physical effects of