El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-04-13
NATIVE DRINKS
MEXICO 5 CURSE
Pulque and Mescal Were
National Beverages
Before Cortez.

Washington. D. c.. April 13.-Although
Francisco villa himself is said to be
total abstainer from intoxicating
liquors. many Of the Mexican border
outrages perpetrated by his men have
followed a tOo-free Indulgence in the
Mexican national drinks. pulque and
mescal.
The National Geographic society Of
Washington, in a primer issued on these
two beverages peculiar to the southern
republic, says:
The colonists who settled the east
coast Of the United States have been
charged with introducing the Amer
lean Indian to fire-water' in exchange
for the tobacco habit, but no similar
accusation can rest against the Euro
peans who conquered the pulQue-drInk-
ing Aztecs of Mexico. The intoxica-
ting properties of this unique bever-
age were known long before Cortez
marched HIS army across the causeways
which Joined the ancient Venice-like
capitol Of the MOntezumas to the lake
shores.
Comes From Useful Plant
Both pulque and mescal are prod
ucts Of the agave or century plant
which was Of the same utilitarian i'm
portance to the aborigines as the date
palm to the Arab, the bamboo to the
Burmese. and the banana to the Cen
trail American. In addition to the two
NVA AelAAA Hfeh Nl dA7NSs lllla plant SUPPLIES
from its roots a starchy food: from
its fibrous leaves. cloth is woven and
rope is made from its pulp the Aztecs
obtained a kind Of papyrus paper on
which have been preserved some Of
their most valued writings; its huge
leaves when dried furnished a roofing
Tor adobe huts, its stems still supply
fuel, and the rows OF the sharp-spined
plants afford an impenetrabIe defence
against the attacks Of wild animals
as well as an effective barrfcade
against hostile tribes
'Mescal and Dulque are not. as MANY
believe, different names for the same
drink. Mescai is distilled from the
leaves and roasted roots Of the plant
and IS a sort Of brandy. containing
from a third to half as much alcohol /
as the average American Whislrev.
Pulque, on the other hand. is the fer
mented sap of the plant, and is obtained /
from the heart Of the maguey. or aga-e. /
when It has attained a growth Of six I
Dr. eight years The pulque harvester I
taps this heart. which might be com
pared with the center Of the date palm, /
and with the aid Of long reed or |
Sourd he sucks the sap from II, using |
MS tongue as a stopper for the reed ]
When the reed is full he blows it into /
plgskin container strapped to his /
back. In the course Of four or five /
months the maguey will Weld ten gal.
When fresh, pulque is a sweet. innoc-
ious liquid and is called aqua miel
money water). It soon begins TO fer
nent, however, n process often has
ened by the addition Of madre or old,
'ulque.
Both Are Cheap Drinks.
Neither mescal nor pulque is expen-
I'VE. One can get a drink OF the lat
er for a cent while a 14-gallon cask
II q 20
nav be had for 10 pesos (s95O).
Inc MeXicans surround the discov-
ry or these maguey beverages with
legend OF royal romance. Long be-
ore the Montezumas held SWAY over
enochttlan' so the story goes, one Of
he early emperors took as his bride
he beautiful daughter Of a vanquished
be. The princess brought with her to !
enochtitlan the secret Of a remark
bic drink Of which her lord and mas
sr grew inordinately fond. After i'm
ibing freely Of it he would become I
ratifyingiy docile and torpid. leaving !
ne princess free to her own devices
Their Aztec wives induced the princess |
, snare with them the secret Of this !
TRANCE soporific and thus the whole I
ace came under the power of pulque.
The Aztec cannot be charged WITH !
ne invention OF the nauseous milk /
1lque, a compound Of puluue and |
Xix with a dash Of rennet. The rem |
st part OF cows compound stomach.
partially purified and the odor thus
nparted is intensified and complicated
y that Of the pig-slJin in which the
quor Is contained. The alibi which
blenders OF the Aztec can offer against
re charge Of being party to this OIL
.ctory crime is that before the Span
rds reached Mexico there was no cat
{, horses or donseys in the country
snce no rennet
Cannot BE shipped ont.
PuIque cannot be shipped out Of